Yes, this is my shameless SWTOR / Movie Era crossover.
If you want to see how the magic happens you can join my discord server Unlimited Works In Progress
THE ACCUSATION OF THE SITH EMPIRE
All of the clones who heard the message, flinched and went suddenly very still. Unnaturally so that it gained the attention of some of the Jedi in charge of them, while the others stayed conveniently oblivious to the situation at hand.
Ahsoka Tano looked at her friend, Captain Rex, clearly worried about his well being when his expression suddenly closed off as if he was suffering from something.
She didn’t hear the message he received just before she entered the room, but it must have been something bad if Rex reacted like that. It was pretty uncommon for him to act like that though, that’s why she had to make sure he was alright. Especially considering that he still held her on the other end of his own blaster.
“Do you need a friendly ear by any chance?” she asked, hoping for a positive reaction, her hands raised as if she was trying to appease a spooked animal that could impale her on its horns at any moment.
To her disappointment he shook his head, before throwing his blaster as far away from himself as he possibly could. The weapon hit the opposite wall with a loud noise, making Ahsoka flinch involuntarily, not really accustomed to such behavior.
“Was it really so bad that he felt the urge to express his frustration via violence?” she thought to herself. “Or maybe he was simply angry and needed an outlet?”
“I really think we should talk about this though” she pressed.
“No need. I am fine now” he smiled at her as if nothing happened.
And then he took out the holoprojector once again and made a call to the void.
Ahsoka furrowed her brows.
“What is going on?” she asked herself, not knowing that she wasn’t the only one.
***
“Execute order 66” rang in their thoughts as the clones across the galaxy turned towards their respective Jedi commanders and like one interconnected unit raised their blasters at them… just to throw them on the ground in the next second.
No matter the situation around, they needed to do this. They had to throw away the object of their shame and the crime they all didn’t commit, but were supposed to.
It didn’t matter that they got weird looks or were cursed out to hell and back for their reckless behavior in the face of war or imminent death. This was an order, everything else was secondary to upholding it after it was given. They didn’t have a choice.
***
Various Jedi across the galaxy in turn looked at their respective commandos as if they just grew another head. Some wondered confusedly what was happening, while the others got worried over their respective subordinates or friends.
“Kriff, blasted clones!”
While yet different ones yelled angrily, while dragging the clones out of the blaster fire or protecting them with their lightsabers, reflecting the blasts at their enemies.
Not a single one of them knew about the order, so they couldn’t understand the sudden change in basically all of the clones which surrounded them. They couldn’t know, even though some were aware that clones were programmed to follow orders.
Putting two and two together would be easy if they didn’t lack this one puzzle piece - the information that there were specific orders only few could give and that there was in fact an inhibitor chip in the clones’ brains which forced them to obey them.
That’s why it was surprising to the Jedi when every single squad of clones, who till now served them all extremely well, suddenly dropped their weapons and stopped fighting. Especially if they were in the middle of the battle. Fortunately for the clones, the order also included a command "to take cover if attacked", which saved a lot of lives from perishing in the warzones. They couldn't however, continue fighting.
“What is wrong with you, all of the sudden?!” thundered Quinlan Vos, trying to protect as many clones as he could, despite his very well known dislike of them all. Normally he wouldn't care about any of them, but apparently today was not his day.
Not even a single one tried to respond to him. They were too focused on the single holo projector of their commander in charge, waiting for the message from across the galaxy to come. Because then and only then, when it was finally delivered to those who needed to know, they were going to be freed from their programming. The person who gave this order didn't want any of them to miss out on this.
“Well, that at least makes this battle a little more interesting” said Ventress, clearly ignoring the situation at hand, despite seeing that it fretted her lover. Quinlan only growled, not at all amused by the whole thing and the fact that he was stuck providing cover. Clones were supposed to fight, not become civilians in need of protection all of the sudden. "Try having some fun, while at it?" She added, smiling at him sharply.
***
Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the meantime were walking through the hallways of the Galactic Senate, looking for Senator Padme Amidala to deliver her a message that the Battle of Coruscant was already over and they won.
The only clone with them was always loyal and vigilant Cody, who trotted just behind them, providing very unnecessary cover “just in case” they were attacked. It wasn’t very likely, considering where they were, but after Jedi Master Mace Windu turned out to be a traitor, the clones in the capital felt especially on edge.
Obi-Wan never would have thought that something like that will ever happen. He would never ever try to prepare himself for the reality in which he will have to witness a betrayal of a friend two times in his entire life, but thanks to the fact that he knew them, he also was aware that Mace, whatever he planned, wouldn't attack.
Not them at least and not now, if he could help it. Not so soon.
Mace, however painful it was to say now, was one of the best of them. He knew how to proceed in order to get exactly the outcome he wanted and it saved the Jedi Order a lot of times. Which, when Obi-Wan was thinking about it now, seemed strange, considering that his desired outcome wouldn’t probably allow him to be labelled as a traitor if he truly was one, right? Maybe there was something more to it…?
Just like when Quin had to go undercover and everything quickly went to shit?
Still, those who strayed from the path of Light were never really easy to understand. Obi-Wan knew that especially well thanks to his numerous encounters with Asajj Ventress, who despite being a loyal Sith, helped him a lot of times as well.
Not to mention that she even helped Quin reach Count Dooku. Whatever her reasons were, he already knows them or at least suspects that they had something to do with revenge, considering that Dooku was her Master and also the one who betrayed her.
She had a personal business in all of this, while Quin was ordered by the Jedi Council to assassinate the Count. Could it be that Mace was doing something similar? But why would he then target the Chancellor after he already killed Dooku?
It made no sense, and Obi-Wan had no time to spare to think about it now. He promised himself though that he will meditate on that later. When he is alone and not spacing out in the middle of the walk.
Now when he was finally fully back from his mind ventures, he suddenly noticed that he no longer heard Cody’s footsteps behind his back. Going by Anakin’s furrowed brow and side-glances in his direction, he must have noticed it first.
Obi-Wan stopped moving and looked behind himself, inclining his head to his… friend? Comrade? Subordinate? He didn’t know, but he wanted to be aware of any issues, if there were any, which Cody found concerning enough to slow them down.
“Did something happen, Cody?” he asked in a nice, but slightly teasing tone.
The man flinched slightly, but didn’t respond, which was odd. Obi-Wan furrowed his brows, exchanged a look with Anakin, who shrugged his shoulders and both of them proceeded to come all the way back to Cody to learn what was happening.
“Why are you holding a holo projector?” asked Anakin, pointing at the device which was connecting to nothing in particular as of this moment. Weird.
Obi-Wan felt himself tensing up all of the sudden.
“Waiting for the message, sir” replied Cody stiffly. Too stiffly to be normal for him.
Not to mention that Obi-Wan didn’t like the answer in the slightest.
It concerned him.
“Are you sure everything is ok?” pressed Obi-Wan, now clearly worried, but trying to hide it behind the mask of nonchalance. “If something is wrong, you can say it”.
Cody nodded stiffly, continuing to stare into the holo projection.
“You know, we really don’t have time for staring into nothing now, but we can always do that later, when we already dealt with our business here” jested Anakin, trying to lift the awkward atmosphere, but to no avail. Cody didn’t stop waiting.
His insubordination was becoming more and more worrying by the minute, which despite all his training made Obi-Wan feel on edge.
Something was clearly wrong with Cody, and as much as Jedi teachings didn’t allow him to form attachments with others, he still cared about the clone.
Obi-Wan considered briefly sending Anakin along, but if there was something, which could keep him away from the one he loved, it was definitely a friend in need.
So surprisingly, they both were on the same page here.
Obi-Wan sighed heavily.
He didn’t know why Cody suddenly started acting strangely, but he was sure that whatever was happening meant something greater than it looked.
As if on cue, the holo projection shimmered, when someone stepped in front of the device on the other side. The person was not anybody they would know though.
A young woman - or at least she looked young to Obi-Wan, he was bad at guessing ages these days, when everybody looked so young to him now as he was older - with a short ponytail stood straight in front of them, still somehow giving a vibe of authority despite not being clothed in anything specifically distinguishable.
Her most distinct characteristics were nearly invisible through holo pointy ears.
“Who is that” asked Anakin, peering closely at the figure as if she was a small statue, which he had to pay a lot of attention to in order to see it properly.
Cody didn’t respond, clearly waiting for the person to speak.
“Cody?” The tone of his voice probably showed how worried he was, but he didn’t care anymore. Cody never acted like this before, so whoever this person was they better explain why his commander is acting like that or Obi-Wan will make them.
As if knowing that they were stretching the silence too much and therefore crossing the invisible limit of Obi-Wan’s patience, the person started speaking.
“Sheev Palpatine” she started in an authoritative tone, not seeming to really care that she was addressing the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic “we thereby recognize you as the traitor to the Sith Empire and Empress Alora of the Sith.
Shock on Obi-Wan’s face was only matched by the ridiculousness in Anakin’s tone.
“What?!” he exclaimed in utter surprise.
They both stared dumbfounded at the figure in front of them, not even knowing that they weren’t the only ones. Jedi generals across the galaxy were as confused, surprised and wide-eyed as the two of them were here right now.
“For issuing the order, which initially was created to make you the most powerful being in the Galaxy, we recognize you as Sith, and we see you as the one who intends to challenge the Empress of the Sith. You are thereby our enemy” continued the woman, completely ignoring the reactions on the other end of the holo frequency.
“Wait, Sith Empire? The very same Sith Empire which doesn’t exist anymore?” Obi-Wan’s thoughts were racing. “What the kriff? It was supposed to be long dead and defeated by the Republic during the Jedi-Sith War! What’s going on? Why did the Jedi Order not know about the Sith milling around the galaxy? Why did they think that there were only two of them, the late Count Dooku and his Master, if in fact there was a whole Empire out there just waiting to make the contact!?”
“Wait… wait, wait, wait, wait. If this is the Sith Empire” Anakin put the unnecessary emphasis on “the” to drive his point home “then why aren’t we fighting them?”
“That’s a good question,” replied Obi-Wan.
“And what’s more. Why are we fighting a stupid and unjust war over principles with the Separatists if there is an actual threat out there just waiting for us to deal with!?”
“Yes, Anakin, we know. Now, can you please, shut up for five seconds? I am trying to listen” that earned him a snort from Cody, which made Obi-Wan relax just a little. It looked like he wasn’t completely out of his usual self if he could laugh at them still.
Anakin crossed his arms on his chest, clearly irritated, but silent nonetheless.
“We can see clearly as day that you are aspiring to become the next Sith Emperor and that's unfortunate not only because of the fact that you challenge our leader” she said as if it was the most immature, but also clearly predictable thing to happen. “The previous Sith Emperor was a maniac who wanted to kill the whole Galaxy in order to sustain his own immortality”.
Both Obi-Wan and Anakin listened attentively, trying to unravel the motivation of their sworn enemies which led them to contact the Jedi directly. As of now though it sounded like a lot of made up bullshit, which made them both grimace at the woman.
“He was the one who once united Jedi and Sith in a crusade against him, and he shall unite us again thanks to you, the one stepping in his footsteps” she paused as if trying to build effective suspense. “We are the ones who opposed him and took him down once upon a time, and we will oppose and take down you as well”.
After those words the signal cut out, leaving only ringing silence in its wake.
Silence didn’t last long though as Anakin quickly let everybody know what he thinks about this whole situation in a way which aligned with the feelings of all of them.
“What, to the kriff, happened just now?”
Obi-Wan stared at the inactive holo projector for a while, trying to wrap his head around everything that just happened, while Anakin bore holes in his arm, clearly waiting for him to respond to him, like a five year old he sometimes acted like.
He sighed after a while, tired of his scrutiny and looked at Cody, who stared at the holo projector as well. His face showing confusion and weirdly something akin to aimlessness, just as if something else happened and he was unsure what to do next.
It disappeared behind a mask of formality the moment when he became aware that Obi-Wan was looking straight at him, but it was already too late to hide it. Deciding to leave it be for now, the older Jedi smiled at his commander kindly.
“It’s good to have you back, Cody. You had me worried there for a while”.
“I am sorry, sir. I really don’t know why I did that” he said nonplussed. “But I can assure you that it will not happen again”.
“It’s fine, Cody”.
“Ekhm” Anakin decided to remind them of his existence by clearing his throat.
“Yes, Anakin?” asked Obi-Wan in a slightly teasing tone.
“What do you think that was all about?”
“Well… it looks like the Sith Empire decided to join forces with the Republic” he replied nonchalantly, making both Anakin and Cody grunt in incredulity at him.
“And people say I am the irresponsible one”.
“Because you are, Anakin”.
Cody snorted a laugh, and everything was fine for just a few more minutes, before they all had to face the completely ridiculous reality in which the Sith Empire accused the Supreme Chancellor of being a Sith and declared to take him down.
***
Padme was startled by the new information, but didn’t seem surprised, which kind of grated on Anakin’s nerves, but he couldn’t really say anything if he didn’t want to face the wrath of his soon to be secret wife, additionally boosted by the pregnancy.
“Was she really believing those, those… Siths? Unbelievable! The Chancellor wasn’t a Sith!” he fumed to himself, while Obi-Wan and Padme discussed how to break to the Senate the information about the casualties of the so-called Battle of Coruscant.
Padme was of course aware that he was displeased and even called him out on that a few times, disguising all of it as jokes between her and his Master, the heathen. He really felt sometimes that the day when Obi-Wan and Padme got to know each other better was also the day when they both started planning his doom as they both seemed to enjoy his irritation too much for all of it to not be some kind of setup.
“Anakin, can you please stop pouting and listen to our conversation? I will know if you ask R2 to relay everything to you later and I already told him not to do that”.
“It was definitely a setup”, he thought as he smiled at his beloved and rejoined the conversation, acting as if he was listening all along, which was of course a lie they both knew about and didn’t want him to ever live it down.
“Good to have you with us again, Anakin,” said Obi-Wan in a mock pleasantry. “We were just talking about how wonderful it was that you saved the Chancellor”.
“No you weren’t, because we both did it and you would never allow me to take credit for that if you were there too. Stop making fun of me you two”.
Obi-Wan just smirked at him in reply.
In turn Anakin promised himself to do something nasty to his robes later.
“Better tell me what you were actually talking about” he put an emphasis on the word “actually”, knowing well enough that they will tell him that anyway, even if they will make fun of him still for his inattention. It was not the first time it happened.
“We were actually thinking if we could use this battle to our advantage and preach the necessity of abolishing the clone army and once again try to talk things through” said Padme. “It won’t be easy, but so many deaths could actually change some minds.
“Or actually make the Senate think the army is ineffective and needs better training” added Obi-Wan. “Which would mean more money for the Kaminoans to continue with their cloning experiments. Recently there was some interest in the unit 99”.
“The infamous Bad Batch? They want more clones like them?”
“Not many, but some did express that need, though they wanted them to be made more loyal to the Republic, which could mean usage of some inhuman techniques”.
Cody shifted uncomfortably in the background when hearing this, which seemed logical. It would affect his future brothers and he was definitely worried about them.
“Yeah, that sounds like something we should prevent,” agreed Obi-Wan.
“If I may” said Cody suddenly, but unsure if he should speak at all.
“Huh, weird” thought Anakin, and he knew Obi-Wan had the exact same thought.
Cody fidgeted a bit, and he never fidgeted which was even more weird, before he finally straightened his back, saluted and seemingly full of determination blurted.
“They already used shady techniques on us in the past”.
His awkward cough after saying this sounded like an explosion in ensuing silence.
“What do you mean” asked Padme gently.
“The message we got today…” he started slowly with the face of a person who was saying something they knew, but didn’t remember how they got in the possession of the information. “It wasn’t just a message. It was tied to the set of pre-programmed commands which all clones respond to. We all listened to the message as per the directive and after that something… changed. I suddenly know about the directives I wasn't aware of before and I also know where they come from, who implanted them and why, as well as I am now aware that I no longer have to listen to them”.
That… was a lot.
“Wait, what are you talking about?” asked Anakin in surprise, trying to process it.
“All clones were implanted with bioorganic inhibitor chips which ensure our loyalty to the Republic. That is how we were programmed to follow the orders of the Jedi, but… there were directives there, hidden, which were supposed to force us to harm you all, and we wouldn’t have the choice, we would have to follow the order. We would lose the ability to control our bodies and kill whoever we were told to”.
“That’s horrifying!” gasped Padme, while Obi-Wan looked concerned by what he just heard. And probably not only by this, but that it was somehow connected to the Sith.
“How do you know it is not fabricated information?”
“With all due respect, General Kenobi, but I had those orders implanted in my head. I was aware of their existence even if I usually didn’t have access to them. Not to mention that not so long ago Rex filed a report about a faulty inhibitor chip. The whole ordeal ended with the death of one of the Jedi generals and lack of any real investigation, which was in fact compromised by the people in charge of it”.
“Kaminoans” breathed Padme, as if finally connecting the dots. “They did that to you all, they programmed you and they also covered up the possible slip up”.
Cody nodded grimly, while Obi-Wan hummed.
“But why would they do that?” asked Anakin. “I don’t see anything which would explain why Kaminoans wanted clones to turn against us, so it must be false”.
“Not necessarily” replied Obi-Wan. “It may not even be something they planned themselves, but something which was set up a long time ago by someone else”.
“Like who?” asked Padme. “There are not really many people who could have easily orchestrated that, not to mention that the clones were ordered before the war…” she trailed off, furrowing her brows. “Wait, who even ordered them and why?”
“That’s a very good question, Padme. Not only were they already in full production when the war started, but they were ordered by someone we don’t know, someone who must have predicted that war is imminent… or someone who orchestrated it”.
“Count Dooku?” guessed Anakin.
“No. He was smart, but not that well versed in intrigue on such scale”.
Anakin stared at his Master for a bit, before he finally caught up to his thoughts.
“Darth Sidious?”
“Yes, that’s exactly who I think is behind it all" answered Obi-Wan immediately glancing at Cody - as he was the only one in the room with most of the answers for this particular issue - who quickly confirmed his suspicion with another nod, "and I cannot stress how convenient all of that is, considering the message we received earlier”.
“Don’t you tell me you actually believe those Siths?” said Anakin incredulously.
“No, of course not, but something doesn’t add up here and we need to know what”.
“Leave it all to me” declared Padme, drawing their attention to herself. “I think I know how to get more information, without tipping off the possible suspects”.
Anakin really didn’t like what she was implying here, or the way in which he thought he knew her plans were going. The last thing he wanted was to let Padme have a nice tea party with someone who could have killed her with just a snap of their hand, but sadly she was too stubborn for even him to be able to stop her now.
***
Soon after that, basically in the middle of an all out argument between members of the Jedi Council about what to do with the so-called “new threat”, a huge fleet jumped out of hyperspace near the Coruscant. The ships bore the resemblance to the Republic vessels, but were of an older design than the modern ones. They all also were adorned with a crest, which was strangely similar to the symbol of the Galactic Republic. It confused most of the people who saw them, including the Jedi Council itself, but Master Yoda, despite being born after the conflict, knew what it meant.
The flag on their vessels, which they could see through the holo transmission from one of their capital ships in orbit, was not the one of the Sith Empire they would know. At least not the one of any current era, as theirs was representing the symbol which the Empire used during the time of the Old Republic. The very same which was later taken over after the Jedi-Sith War and adapted as Republic crest in a sign of victory.
Yoda knew it only because he was taught by one of the Masters from his species, who was alive at the time and could relay this knowledge to him. He was very adamant that Yoda needed to commit it to his memory as it was soon to be erased from the Jedi Archives as well. He didn’t think much about it then, but his Master must have known that the Sith Empire isn’t truly gone, or at least believed it will come back.
Funny how fate can twist and wriggle around to make such information significant. At the moment though it was irrelevant as they had much more troublesome issues to handle. Like for example the blockade around Coruscant issued nicely - with a peace flag and a message of no aggression no less - by the very same Sith Empire, claiming that they don’t want their suspect to run away, on top of their more insidious and pressing problem with the rogue Jedi who tried to kill the Chancellor.
After that message the argument, which the arrival of the Sith fleet interrupted, was again in full force. Making the Jedi Masters bicker amongst themselves like children - which most of them were to Yoda anyway, considering how old he actually was - while Yoda himself was silent, deep in thought. Thinking about this whole situation.
It was just truly mystifying that the Sith Empire targeted the very same person as Mace Windu, insisting that he is a Sith and a traitor to non-existent morals of the Siths. They already had a case of a Jedi falling to the Dark Side in Quinlan Vos recently, who hopefully will come around just like Obi-Wan claimed, but having another one so soon, what's more a Councilor in the Jedi Order at that, worried Yoda greatly.
It was nearly as if something else was at work here. Something evil. Something which wanted to disturb the whole galaxy and push it into the century of darkness for real.
Yoda looked through a window at the sky, even from here being able to notice the shapes of the fleet occupying Coruscant, as well as the ships of the Republic which flanked them, fully ready to attack just in case it was all a set up, and hummed.
“In the interesting but dangerous
times we live. Prepared for the worst we need to be. Yes, hrrmmm” he
said to nobody in particular, but still managed to capture the attention
of the whole room, which also swiftly ended the ongoing argument.
~***~
Just saying that the pairings in the
tags will be expanded and the ones for Obi-Wan x Quinlan Vos and Obi-Wan
x Asajj Ventress are there, because those pairings WILL happen, but it
is not established yet. The only established relationship as of now is
Quinlan Vos x Asajj Ventress. Not counting Anidala and F!Sith Warrior x
Lana, which are established too. I will probably add a lot of
relationship tags in the future, because the characters I bring here are
mostly all polyamorous, so yeah, even if not all SWTOR characters
survived till the storyline timeline, the love those characters shared
with them will not be forgotten or treated as something unimportant
anymore.
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