Chapter 19

The process of removing the inhibitor chips from the clones was difficult as it appears to be in different areas of the clones' brains, making it harder to seek, which had clearly irritated Captain Rex.

With the assistance of his closest brother, Commander Cody, the former clones were able to be chip freed and now they were probably human enough to make their own decisions instead of being ordered to.

Until they learn the true purpose of these chips besides forcing them to follow orders, Rex had wanted to scrap the kriffing thing.

A disturbing thought passed through him as he imagine himself, the 501st, and General Skywalker on the battlefield when such an order comes through by the Republic, and they be forced to turn on the Jedi... and Rex coldly shooting him down, screaming in the back of his head.

Rex shakes his head. The Jedi, as flawed as many of them are, would never turn against the Republic or against them.

The fact that there is something in them all that can potentially cause them to follow Order 66 was terrifying, and he still didn't know how the former Jedi crack what's inside of them.

Then again, that was mainly due to Kix, who had scanned Tup with a medical scanner. Kix had check him from head-to-toe like he always does to injured men, a gesture that Rex was now grateful for, despite use to be annoyed at it.

Cody sometimes told him that if Rex ever transfers Kix, he would take him in to be a medic for the 212th because at least Kix is someone who works hard to save the lives of his brothers.

Rex won't lie. Kix is the best medic the 501st could ever hope for, and despite him getting on his nerves because of his overprotectiveness whenever he's injured, Rex could never find himself into handing Kix to another battalion.

Usually, his Jedi General would have shrugged off anything, but now that he's more away from the Chancellor and that corrupt Republic, his Jedi General seems like a better person, and more aware of his surroundings and opportunities. That relieved him ever-so-slightly since General Skywalker has always been headstrong but stressed with trying to hide the relationship between him and the Senator of Naboo.

With nothing else to do, Rex had decided to check out Tup, having placed a couple of his best men in charge of watching him, especially with Tup's vitals being extremely low. The only people that can check on him is either himself, the 501st and 212th, the generals and commander, or the senator from Naboo.

Whoever else has to have a man at their side.

Rex walked up to two of his men called Ridge and Sterling who was guarding the medical bay where Tup was sleeping in.

"Ridge, Sterling, you are dismissed for now. Go get some rest, for you two have been here since morning. I will assure two other men had watched over Tup." Rex ordered, not wanting to stress his men out, especially those who had each been loyal to Skywalker and Tano, even after they'd left the Republic.

"Yes, sir," the two men responded simultaneously, saluting their captain and walking off.

Rex had stood there for a moment, closing his eyes, realizing that he hadn't seen Tup since the process of removing the inhibitor chips. Rex had wished Appo was here right now since the sergeant could have been of assistance, but the man proven to be more loyal to the Republic and Chancellor Palpatine, even after Ahsoka was framed.

'Umbara...' Rex thought to himself, sighing and closing his eyes, knowing that most men of the 501st are loyal to Skywalker and Tano, but others have seen them potentially betraying them as Krell did.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Rex was about to enter before he was stopped by Ridge's voice.

"Captain, you should also know, Fives is in there, he has been since this morning. I like to believe that Fives may just go there whenever he can." Ridge admitted, a humorous glint in his tone.

'Why am I'm not surprised?' Rex mentally said to himself, rolling his eyes, knowing that Fives would knock down General Skywalker, Commander Tano, and General Kenobi just to get to a wounded brother to be at their side. That is why Fives is in Torrent Company.

"That's our Fives," Rex remarked, finding himself smirking as he'd turned and face Ridge, who nodded in agreement, turned around, and walked off.

Rex entered slowly, and as Ridge told him, there Fives was, clutching the hand of the sleeping trooper, trying to offer him whatever support that was possible, given his unconscious state.

Rex got a good look at Tup, seeing that the man, one of his brothers, was laying there, completely paled, lip pursed, and the only reassurance was the man sleeping soundly in a blanket that was wrapped around him, along with the pillow.

Eventually, Rex would have to order a few men to accompany Tup in the process of moving around since he can't lay on his back forever, but the trooper needs to rest for now, and that is what he will receive.

Despite Appo and his men and nearly half of the 501st staying behind along with the shinies, there are a few troopers that were in the middle of becoming veterans, no longer being the inexperienced shinies but it will take some time for them to finally process Phase 2 armor.

"Fives, you need to rest and take your own time off. While we're currently able to rest in peace, it wouldn't be long before the Separatists and possibly the fekking Republic to send an attack." Rex's voice was of concern but sadness, hating to actually witness one of his brothers in such a state, despite witnessing many of his brothers' death.

99.

Echo.

Waxer.

And so many others that didn't deserve to go out the way they did.

A wave of deepening anger for the Republic burned up into him as they had implanted him and his brothers with chips that would have made them blindly follow orders, probably making this whole kriffing war for nothing because a few politicians can't agree with each other.

"I can't do that, Rex," Fives's voice sounded hoarse as he didn't even turn to stare at him.

"Fives, Vod, you have been stressed. With being the sergeant of the 501st and the Tup's situation bothering you, you haven't been able to rest well." Rex scolded softly, not wanting to sound too firm since the trooper had been through a lot.

"Rex, me and Tup have a good relationship! How can I rest with knowing one of my brothers in a pre-coma! He hasn't been able to move since they'd taken that kriffing inhibitor chip outta him! Each of us, you, me, Tup, Jesse, Hawk, Oddball, Waxer, Bly, Cody, Wolffe, all of us slaves, and some of us are gone because of a war that may have been formed just so we can turn against our Jedi superiors and slaughtered them like an unthinking battle droid at the end! To be forced to follow orders! And out of all of us, none of us known! Not the Jedi! Not us! It was only the Generals and Commander! What if General Skywalker and General Kenobi hadn't left that corrupt Order?! What if we'd never found out the truth?!" Fives shouted all of his frustration towards the clone captain before he'd stopped and shaken his head dismissively, just wanting the war to be over, and for them to live in peace.

"Fives, we can never think of alternatives and perhaps dark outcomes. While we are in a new system, we are behind our Jedi generals until the end, and we shall get allies. Perhaps a new system is needed so the Clone Wars can finally end, and perhaps we can all be a family. We are no longer simply another number, we are men and had made our choice. Like those servants of the Republic that had made the choice of staying behind, we all had made the choice to leave and stand behind our Jedi. Like you'd once said several months ago, we are men. We must be trusted to make the right decisions, especially when the orders we are given are wrong." Rex declared.

"What if we weren't given a choice? If we were controlled, we would have been forced to turn on our general. We should have known sooner! Our creation was random, and we were programmed like a damn battle droid!" Fives continued furiously, his hands balling up into fists, and a cold look flashed through his eyes.

"Fives, how could we have known? How the kriffing hell could we have found a mind-controlled segment into us?"

"Yet, they are many of our brothers who may be enslaved. We have less than the entire grand army. Because of this new system, many of the battalions are breaking away from the Republic, but there is still enough that can cause the death of the Jedi if our suspicions are confirm. Besides, there has been a rising numbers of clones from Kamino, and our departure will soon only seem like defectors." Fives said, sounding much calmer, regaining his self-control, being stressed lately, and just sounding like he'd wanted a break.

"If we can stop the Republic from shattering and the corruption from breaching so far, then perhaps we can save our brothers. Not all is truly lost as long as we fight for what's right, Fives."

"But what if we can't stop it?!"

Rex hadn't been expecting that response, and quite frankly, the captain of the 501st had thought about that. What if Order 66 is issued, and the clone troopers that were so loyal to their Jedi Generals execute it without a choice? Is there a way where they can reach commanders and tell them about the inhibitor chips, even though they are across the galaxy? Are they even going to listen since most will likely assume they are each a traitor to the Republic that they were bred to fight for?

"Then we will have to be prepared, but for now, we have allies. Although the Republic will likely get more resources, if it ever becomes the thing we vow to fight, we will fight for our brothers. War is difficult and times are tough." Rex retorted, hoping it doesn't come to that, but by the way the Republic is now, their days are fairly numbered.

Fives didn't say anything in response and only watched Tup as the trooper laid there... nothing coming from him... not even a moan or signs that he was sleeping. On the contrary, he looks like he was dead, and the only indication that he was alive was the vitals beeping highly from the monitor.

"Fives, I know you love Tup, but he wouldn't want you to suffer as you are now. He wouldn't want you to be concern about him. Just because we'd found the issue that was wrong with him earlier, we could stop him from dying. They were implanted in each of us, and they can be removed..." Rex continued with a sigh, knowing that the procedure to get each of the men's chips out of them was not easy for them since they are in different levels of the brains.

"He's right, Fives," a new voice was heard from the entrance, and in came the commander of the 501st, Ahsoka Tano. Although she had a slight scent on her, a shower is needed and she will smell the same soon.

Still, though, she looks as energized as ever. That wasn't surprising, considering the Togruta was always full of energy that caused the 501st to strangely also be just as energized, proving to win many battles for them, and warming the clones' hearts. The fact that the Jedi could have given her to the Republic so easily is flustering to the captain of the 501st.

Rex always knew there was something between the general and Senator Amidala though not to what intent.

Commander Tano knows as well since she had placed a bet against Rex with Jesse, Fives, Ridge, Kano, and the other men in the 501st as well. Sometimes, the 212th would join in which amused Tano.

Rex remembered himself, Cody, and Appo having to tell their men, especially the shinies, about not giving their eyes to Commander Tano, and a lot of men agreed, being the big brothers' figure so the shinies stopped and soon understood why the 501st and 212th were so overprotective over Tano. It was just her attitude and personality that made a lot of battalions wished to be under her command.

Quickly, Rex and Fives straightened, the latter standing up from his chair, both saluting the Togruta simultaneously, who immediately begins giggling and rolling her eyes.

"At ease, Captain... Sergeant..." Ahsoka's voice was strangely teasing at Fives who was recently promoted to Sergeant, hoping beyond hope that her former master will place him in charge of the new unit that they had talked about before going to Dantooine.

"Wh-How?" Both men asked awkwardly, shooting a glance at each other at not hearing the sounds of her approaching.

Ahsoka giggles once again, clearly finding the situation humorous. That giggle silently warmed both men's hearts as they had thought they would have lost their commander to a biased trial just two weeks ago.

"Oh, we have returned just now, however, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ventress are busy constructing their lightsabers."

Ahsoka didn't miss the fact that both of the men stiffened at the thought of Ventress building new lightsabers, sensing them remembering the past where she would target their brothers and kill them mercilessly.

"Don't worry, you two. She won't be able to stand against us if she double-crosses us." The Togruta reassured, raising her palms to send calming energies through the Force. "Anyhow, I was going to build mine right now, however, I had sensed your pain, Fives, and was hoping to talk to you. Rex... if you will give me a moment with Fives."

Rex simply nodded, hoping that Ahsoka can help Fives where he fails. Ahsoka had been through a traumatic experience so she might be able to.

The Togruta indicated for the sergeant to follow her, and the sergeant did with hesitation, shooting a brief glance at the captain who simply nods weakly.

"Fives, what happened is not your fault..." Ahsoka was talking to the sergeant, trying to get through him, hoping that she would be able to calm the sergeant, for he'd been known to place the blame on himself whenever he's on a mission and there's casualties or when his brothers is wounded around him.

Quite frankly, the Togruta had grown more mature with what had happened a couple of weeks ago. Whereas she had initially wanted to leave without her former master, he seemed to be at a thinning point already with the Order.

Perhaps it was Obi-Wan faking his death... or the way the Council simply pushed her to the side without any source of hesitation... or... or something else.

"Commander Tano, how long were you standing there?" Fives inquired begrudgingly, clearly wanting to go back to the medical bay where he would be able to be next to Tup. If Tup dies, at least Fives would be there to witness it instead of having to watch as troopers drag his body under a white sheet on a stretcher away.

"Long enough," Ahsoka informed him with a slightly joking tone in her voice, crossing her arms across her chest, allowing a slight grin to form on her lips before a serious look cross her face. "Fives, you are not only a trooper under my command, but you are also my friend. Have you forgotten that Master Skywalker was going to present me with my own battalion? Out of each of the troopers in the battalions, I want you to be my top men like Rexster and Skyguy, Codykins and Mr. Negotiator."

"Oh, what a nightmare that will be. I got to call you General Tano, Commander Tano..." Fives found himself quipping, wanting to be in her battalion regardless, but loving the thought of teasing his commander who will be a general soon enough.

"Well, I got to boss you around. At least Commander Rex hasn't happened yet..." Ahsoka retaliated, thinking about the day when Rex will become commander. It was going to happen eventually, and she knows that he wasn't going to be happy since Rex was just not the one for promotions like Cody was because the captain of the 501st preferred leading his men instead of an entire legion of other men.

"Oh Force, the captain isn't going to be too pleased with that when that day comes."

By now, Fives was struggling to prevent himself from smiling, and Ahsoka knows she was helping him. She had sense Fives's pain when she'd come on the star destroyer, and although she was going to go on one of the quarters on the star destroyer to build her lightsaber and rest after a few days of venturing out, she couldn't leave him alone... not when one of her men is in pain.

"Ya' think?" Ahsoka inquired before stopping and turning to the trooper, placing supportive hands onto his shoulders. "Still, you shouldn't blame yourself over Tup since Tup is a strong trooper. I can sense he's getting better. Just keep your faith in him and try to focus on what he would have wanted you to do. If Tup had wanted to stay with the Republic, he would have... each of you guys had a choice to either stay or leave, and Tup is one who had left. Tup would want you to fight for our system and fight for what's right."

Fives stared down to the ground, allowing realization to burn inside of him. Somehow, Commander Tano was always the one that managed to calm the 501st thoughts, not General Skywalker, not Captain Rex, it was always her, and she had managed to become a little sister form to each of the men and they were fiercely overprotective of her.

"Thanks, commander, you know you are really helpful to the 501st. Not only do you inspire loyalty, but you are also one who had always lead us to victory, even with our lives on the line. I have a feeling you would take a bullet for us." Fives said, allowing his sentimental side of himself to show.

"You bet I would, you all mean a lot to me. I grew up with you guys." Ahsoka replied, touching Fives's shoulder softly. "Now, I have to go meditate myself. Next time you guys see me, expect me to have two new lightsabers."

"Have fun with that, commander, because of course you always do brighten the mood. Also, you better warn Ventress not to reveal herself with her new weapons when she creates them, for not many of our men would take it well. The 212th... is more lenient and forgiving than the 501st..." Fives warned her, not sure why he'd wanted to protect Ventress who had murdered many of his brothers in the past.

Ahsoka knew he was right since Cody and his men had been known for being as merciful as Kenobi, despite also snapping a few times in the past like Cody did upon seeing Ventress next to her two weeks ago. The 212th had changed greatly just like the 501st.

"You got that right so I better alert Skyguy to tell the men that Ventress is not going rogue," Ahsoka said, smirking slightly before turning on her heel and begins walking off.

Fives didn't know why but he had a feeling that they will have a long journey and that they will have to adjust to a new environment without being in the Republic.

Arthur's note: Forgive me for the 9 day wait. This chapter was an iffy because I didn't knew where to start off. Don't worry, it isn't Writer's Block, it's just where I start off. Since today is my birthday, and I had a motivation to complete a chapter, I guess this story is the one.

This is basically an end of the arc with Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Ventress having returned but focusing on other characters' struggles.

I'm not sure who would be the leader of Ahsoka's battalion. I'm thinking about Captain Fives and Sergeant Boil. I might do the other way around, but it's not going to only be the 501st.

Also Quinlan Vos and Bad Batch would appear. Trust me. Yes! I read reviews but sometimes forget to respond! Lol

Originally, Anakin was supposed to be the one to talk with Fives, but this is Ahsoka's story as it is Anakin. As much as I love Anakin and he's my favorite character, I want to focus on other characters. Not to mention I have two other stories that will be feature around him and one plan where Revenge of the Sith and the Siege of Mandalore is changed by Obi-Wan making a choice that changes the fate of the galaxy.

It's finished but I'm not sure when I will publish it, however, I will probably publish it when I'm finished with either this one or The Grey Path. The Wrong Jedi story of mine where Anakin is framed is going to take a long time to be finished since I'm planning a trilogy and arcs with that one.

I think it's normal for Obi-Wan and Anakin to alter their fates now on Fanfiction. Legit, all a writer has to do is have a character speak up or make a different choice, and everything changes. Don't you guys agree? XD

May the Force be with you all always.