Hello, all! Back again with chapter 9! I don't really have anything to say until the end of the chapter, so go on ahead. I hope you enjoy!

Kix sighed as he looked down at Tup. "Captain, he's not looking good. Those scans took a lot out of him, and his mind seems to be fighting against itself."

Rex pursed his lips. "Blaze, how long until we get there?"

The pilot of the 401st sighed as well. "I told you that we'll be exiting hyperspace soon, Captain. I understand that you're concerned for Tup; so am I. But unless you wanna burn up and be scattered across all parsecs, I can't go any faster."

Fives put a hand on Rex's shoulder. "We'll find out what's going on, Rex. I promise."

Anakin tore his eyes from the clones and walked over to Ahsoka. "What are you thinking?"

He realized that she had been deeper in thought than he'd suspected. Her eyes shot to his as she jumped. "Sorry, Master."

He smiled gently at her. "You don't need to call me that anymore, Ahsoka."

"Oh, right. What did you say earlier?"

"I asked what you're thinking about?" He sat beside her and put his hand on her shoulder gently. "You alright?"

"I'm alright," she said with a nod. "Just worried. I'm not sure that we're gonna like what we find out."

"Probably not," he agreed. "But we need to know if we can get any information about what could've triggered it without 'you know who' finding out."

Their conversation was interrupted by Anakin's communicator going off. He frowned as he grabbed it out, and a hologram of Palpatine was projected. "Hello, Anakin."

"Your Excellency," Anakin greeted. His chest filled with surprise and dread. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well, I was recently informed of a few things. Why didn't you tell me you'd been promoted to Master and given a seat on the Council?"

Anakin tried to look apologetic. "I'm sorry, Chancellor. I just haven't had the time. Officially, I've been on leave for a few days, but I've been working on a… personal project. With Senator Amidala."

"Ah, I understand," the Chancellor replied, smiling tightly. "I assume that is the same reason why you didn't tell me Ahsoka was promoted? Congratulations seem to be in order, Master Tano."

"Oh, um, thank, thank you, Your Excellency. It's an honor to serve as a fully-fledged Jedi Knight under your rule."

His smile became more genuine at that. "Well, if I may ask, what is your first mission as a Jedi Knight? I was informed by Commander Fox that both of you requested a shuttle to Kamino? I would've expected the two of you to be on the way to Ringo Vinda to support Master Kenobi."

Anakin faltered. He hadn't expected to have to make up a cover story so soon, but he should've prepared.

Luckily, Ahsoka thought quickly. "Well, Chancellor, my next birthday is coming up soon. I'll be experiencing the lekku-growth typically seen in Togruta soon, so I made an appointment of sorts with Master Shaak Ti to learn how to fight with longer lekku like she does. Master Skywalker is coming along to check on the next class of cadets with me, as they'll likely be joining my legion."

Palpatine seemed to consider that for a moment — a moment that seemed to stretch on for hours. Then, he smiled, seemingly satisfied. "Of course. That makes perfect sense. Well, good luck to you, then. I'll leave you to it." The hologram disappeared before the two could reply again.

Anakin let go of a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Quick thinking, Snips."

Ahsoka gave him a relieved smirk. "Thanks, Skyguy."

Sheev Palpatine had begun to panic. Things were not going according to plan. Tarkin was not supposed to be in prison, Asajj Ventress was not supposed to be a Jedi again, Ahsoka was not supposed to still be part of the Order (let alone a Jedi Knight), Anakin was not supposed to be a Jedi Master. And why hadn't Anakin told him about those things? He'd never been able to predict everything, but he had been so sure about those parts of the plan. If he was losing his grip on Anakin, he would need a backup plan, and quickly.

Luckily, that didn't appear to be the case. He was simply devoted to his wife and former Padawan. One of whom was wrapped around his finger, the other he could take care of easily enough. It wouldn't be long before she would be out of the picture. Regardless, they needed to be watched closely. Perhaps it was time to call in a favor from an old friend...

As the ship broke the atmosphere, the sky was brighter than usual. That wasn't saying much, though; it was still grey, but it wasn't raining as it usually did.

Blaze brought the shuttle down, and the other clones and Jedi walked down the ramp.

The deck officer greeted them with a salute. "Welcome to Kamino. My name is Jax, designation CT-8201."

"Hello," greeted Ahsoka. "I'm Ahsoka Tano, this is Anakin Skywalker. That's Rex, Fives, Jesse, and Kix. The one on the stretcher is Tup. Can we please see Lama Su and Nala Se?"

"Of course," the trooper said with a nod. "Just follow me."

Jax led the way through the sterile facility. Watching the production of the clones had always been fascinating to Ahsoka, but it was also sad in a way. Millions of clones were bred in test tubes, trained to survive and to kill, and then sent out to the front lines. They had no choice but to be sent out to fight for the Republic. Rex was one of her best friends, but he deserved the chance to choose his own path as well. So did Jesse, Fives, Kix, Jax, Tup, all of the clones.

She was shaken from her reflection as they entered the Command Center, where two Kaminoans were already waiting for them. "Greetings, Master Jedi," said Lama Su. "Is there something we can do for you?"

Anakin took point this time. "My name is Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker. This is Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano, Captain Rex, ARC Trooper Fives, ARC Trooper Jesse, and First Aid Specialist Kix. We're here for a level five atomic brain scan on Clone Trooper Tup. We have reason to believe there may be a widespread complication in the clones."

Nala Se's eyes widened slightly, and Lama Su folded his long arms. "I'm not sure what you could be referring to, Master Skywalker," Lama Su argued. "Our knowledge of cloning is unparalleled; we bred the perfect soldiers and would certainly be aware of any 'complication.'

"I don't doubt your wisdom, sir," Anakin assured.

Ahsoka watched as the two Kaminoans shared a look. They were hiding something… but whether it had to do with what was happening to Tup was another matter entirely. "Anakin," she whispered, "something about these two is making me suspicious."

Anakin thought for a moment before adding, "I was in close contact with Master Sifo-Dyas before his death. He would've wanted me to look into this."

Lama Su's eyes narrowed. "You seem quite young to be a friend of Sifo-Dyas."

"My Master's Master was a friend of his."

"Well, does Tyranus know you're here?"

Anakin frowned. Tyranus was the name of the man who worked with Jango Fett. If he worked with Fett, odds were that Tyranus was an agent of Dooku, and thus an agent of Palpatine. "Sifo-Dyas didn't want Tyranus involved in the clone project beyond the recruiting of Jango Fett."

Lama Su looked severely disturbed at that, and he shared another look with Nala Se. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Oh dear…" breathed Nala Se.

"Then I should tell you: Tyranus has been working closely with us. He had us design something; a tool for if the Jedi ever betrayed the Republic."

"What kind of tool?"

"Nala Se can explain it to you better than I."

"Perhaps it would be better to ask you this: what is the reason for your request for a level five scan?"

Anakin looked back at Tup on the stretcher. "That trooper, Tup, has experienced an apparent breakdown. He assaulted Fives and made an attempt on Knight Tano's life. However, he does not remember doing any such thing. Knight Tano and I have reason to believe that this has a direct link to the Grand Army's Contingency Order 66. Before you ask, there is an investigation underway of a traitor within the highest ranks of the Republic, and a member of the Security Council informed me of this order. If we are correct, this traitor will likely utilize Order 66 to end the Jedi."

Nala Se looked at Lama Su, clearly disturbed. "Then it is as you have begun to fear." She looked down at Anakin with sorrow and guilt. "I suppose we should just be honest: Tyranus told us that we were designing a safeguard against rogue Jedi. We place an inhibitor chip in the brain of every clone, small enough that only an atomic-level scan would detect it. When Order 66 is activated, the clones' consciousnesses are overridden with an absolute desire to complete that order."

Fives looked at Jesse, Rex, and Kix in horror. "'Good soldiers follow orders.'"

Nala Se nodded. "That is the mantra we linked to the programming."

Anakin sighed. "Tup was muttering and screaming that when he tried to attack." He looked between the Kaminoans. "I suppose I should tell you: I wasn't actually in contact with Sifo-Dyas. However, I do have reason to believe that Tyranus is an agent of Count Dooku."

Lama Su glared for a moment before nodding. "Thank you for your honesty, Master Skywalker. If this trooper has experienced a malfunction in his chip, we must know why. After that, we can discuss possible strategies to overcome the chips' purpose. Come with us; we will monitor this clone's vital signs and discuss our next steps."

Obi-Wan stroked his beard, nodding. "Two or three more pushes, and we should be able to force them back from here… to there… If Commander Doom can continue to push with the riot gear, Commander Cody and ARC Trooper Boil can lead a squad here to stop further reinforcements."

Tiplar, the yellow-skinned Mikkian sister, nodded. "If it weren't for your ARC Trooper, we wouldn't have been able to overcome that last wave of Destroyers and Super Rocket Droids. If he and Cody can stop them before they get there, we can prevent even further casualties."

Boil nodded. "I can take a squad and take them out no problem."

"I'll send some of my men with you," Doom said. "We can spare a riot shield or two."

Tiplee, the red-skinned Mikkian sister, sighed. "How are the men holding up?"

"Puck says that most of the troops are still fit for combat," replied Cody. "At our current rate, we could probably get through two pushes, maybe even a third."

Obi-Wan nodded. "It's unlikely that we'll receive any reinforcements, so we'll just have to hope that it'll be enough. Troopers, take your time to strategize and prepare." Doom, Cody, and Boil nodded before splitting off to gather their troops and supplies. "Masters, if you'll excuse me, I have a holo-call I have to make."

Tiplee and Tiplar nodded. "Very well, Master Kenobi," replied Tiplar.

Obi-Wan walked off before entering the empty room adjacent to the hangar they'd set up in. He pressed the 'call' button on the holo-projector before setting it on the ground in front of him.

After a few moments, Satine's form appeared over the projector. Obi-Wan smiled gently at her appearance: the former duchess had her hair in a small bun with a silver headband. She wore a long, silk gown. "Greetings, Master Kenobi," she said formally.

Obi-Wan frowned. "Hello, Satine. Is something the matter?"

"No, not at all," she replied tightly. "Is there a reason for your call?"

"I actually called to apologize," he said, his frown deepening. "The Council sent me to Ringo Vinda, and I was busy gathering the 212th and strategizing with Masters Tiplee and Tiplar. I wanted to tell you I was leaving, but I never had a chance."

Satine's gaze softened considerably after his explanation. "Well, I… I appreciate that, Obi-Wan. You… you don't owe me an explanation, though. I understand your duty to the Council."

Obi-Wan sighed internally. Should I just tell her? But what if…? But with the Grey Order, we can… Blast! "I'm sorry, Satine. I just… I want you to know that I've sincerely enjoyed our time together these past few days. I have, I have a bit of news that I'd like to tell you when I return. I may not have much free time, but I'd like to tell you as soon as possible."

"Why not tell me now?" she asked shyly.

"It's, it's something I'd like to tell you in person."

She gave him a small smile. "Alright, Obi. I hope that means it's good news?"

"I think it is, yes," he replied, matching her smile.

"Then I look forward to seeing you again soon. Good luck with your campaign."

"Thank you, Satine. I hope to see you soon."

As the transmission ended, Obi-Wan grimaced. No backing out now… Anakin was right; the Grey Jedi allow healthy attachment and believe that they're stronger for it. The Code doesn't hold me back anymore.

But so much could still go wrong...

As they waited for Nala Se to finish her examination of Tup, Anakin approached Rex.

"Rex, can I ask you something?"

Rex frowned, realizing that something else must be wrong. "What's going on, General?"

"I just wanted to ask your opinion on something." Anakin paused, and Rex nodded his confirmation. "Commander Fox. What do you think about him?"

Rex thought for a moment. "He's a good soldier. Responsible, absolutely loyal to the Republic, devoted to protocol and logic, like a lot of other clones."

"Is he loyal to the Republic or to Palpatine?"

"Hm… He probably believes that they're the same thing, more or less. Why do you ask?"

Anakin sighed. "He told Palpatine that we're heading to Kamino. I'm not overly worried because Ahsoka came up with a decent cover story, but we can't be too careful."

Rex nodded. "Do you want me to tell him? There are a few clones I know that report directly to the Chancellor, including Fox, Thire, Thorn, and Cody."

"Each of them is pretty high profile," Anakin noted, shaking his head. "It's risky enough that you and Fives know. For now, we'll just have to be more careful about which clones we ask for help from."

"Yes, General."

But Anakin could tell that the clone was still conflicted. "What is it, Rex?"

Rex grimaced. "I just hope that you know I trust all of my brothers. Fox didn't tell the Chancellor because he's on the Chancellor's side; he did it because it's his duty. Just like Tup said: 'Good soldiers follow orders.'" He shook his head sadly. "If there was enough evidence, Fox would probably shoot one of his own brothers to preserve the Republic."

Anakin didn't have a chance to respond, as Nala Se exited the exam room, followed by Kix. "CT-5385 has experienced a malfunction in the inhibitor chip Tyranus told us to install in each of the clones. I ran a scan of all Troopers in stasis, and none of them have had any similar malfunctions. This appears to be an isolated incident."

Kix sighed. "Bad news is that the only way to reverse the effect is to remove his chip. Which would… It's more than likely that it would kill him."

Anakin shook his head resolutely. "If there's any way to save Tup, we have to try."

Nala Se sighed. "Why do you Jedi show such compassion to these troops? They are just clones. They are meant to be expendable."

Each clone had to clench their fists and jaws.

Ahsoka, however, showed no such restraint. "They aren't 'just clones.' They're living, breathing people, too. They aren't expendable to us, or to anyone that has seen them fight with as much heart and compassion as they do. They aren't just troopers, they're our friends. And that includes Tup. So find a way to remove that chip that you put inside his head!"

Nala Se looked at Anakin, seemingly waiting for him to reign Ahsoka in. However, Anakin didn't even lift a finger. He simply raised an eyebrow at the Kaminoan. "CT-5385–" Anakin narrowed his eyes at her, and she reeled back slightly. "Clone Trooper 'Tup,' she amended, "is fading, and fading quickly. There are no orthodox methods we can use to keep him stable."

Jesse glared at her. "Then try something unorthodox, Madame Se."

Nala and Jesse began to stare each other down until Rex put a hand on Jesse's shoulder and Anakin spoke: "I have an idea… It, uh, it certainly matches the description of 'unorthodox.'"

Nala Se frowned. "What is this 'idea' of yours, Master Jedi?"

Anakin gave Ahsoka an apprehensive look. "Ahsoka, do you want to go find Master Shaak Ti?"

"What? Why?"

"Please just do it, Ahsoka." Ahsoka looked like she wanted to keep arguing, but he gave her an encouraging nod. "Fives can go with you, and you can watch the new cadets train. Please?"

Ahsoka fought with herself for a moment, but, knowing she was fighting a losing battle, stood down. "Alright. Fives, is that okay with you?"

Fives shared a look with Rex and Jesse. "We'll keep an eye on Tup," Jesse assured. "Tell the shinies I say hello, though," he added with a smirk.

With a nod and a sigh, Fives moved beside Ahsoka, and the two made their way to the command center. Ahsoka looked back over her shoulder, just in time to watch Nala Se, Kix, Rex, and Anakin enter the examination room again. Jesse stayed at the observation window, staring worriedly into the room. Ahsoka and Fives soon turned a corner, obstructing their view of Jesse.

Fives sighed. "They'll be alright… Right?"

Ahsoka tried to smile at him. "When Anakin sets his mind to something, he won't give up. He'll save Tup… I hope."

They turned another corner in the facility, and Ahsoka smiled at a group of young cadets. The children looked at both her and Fives in awe. The two of them were very high-ranking members of the army, ranks that each of the children aspired to reach.

Ahsoka was pleasantly surprised to see Master Ti just ahead of them, exiting a room that looked to be for pilot training. "Hello, Master Shaak Ti."

The elder Togruta looked at Fives and Ahsoka in surprise before smiling at them. "Greetings, Master Tano. ARC Trooper Fives. From your presence, I suspect that Master Skywalker's investigation has led you to Kamino?"

Ahsoka chuckled mirthlessly. "You could definitely say that. The two of us were actually looking for you, though."

"Well, I'm on my way to watch a squad of recruits attempt the Citadel Challenge," replied Shaak Ti. "Would your business be able to wait until they have completed their training?"

Ahsoka grinned at Shaak. "Actually, we were hoping to meet some of the Cadets. With my promotion, I'm gonna be in charge of a new group of clones, most likely including these new cadets. Would Fives and I be able to accompany you?"

"If you would like to, you may. They would likely feel honored to have you watch. Come with me."

They walked through Tipoca City, going further and further below the surface. As they passed a large window, Ahsoka grinned and waved at a passing aiwha. While the facility was very plain, the view below the ocean was gorgeous. At least the clones didn't have to be without nature. That would just be the poodoo-icing on the cake. Unbeknownst to Ahsoka, Fives was thinking along similar lines.

Eventually, the three of them walked out onto a patio overlooking the training field. Ahsoka had never seen it before and thought it looked very plain. That is, until Shaak Ti pressed a few buttons on the console. B1s, B2s, Destroyers, and Commandos were summoned to the field, whether through doorways, trap doors, or raised platforms. The terrain shifted radically, creating an intensely rugged landscape.

Fives frowned, and Shaak Ti noticed the look. "The squad can handle it." As she finished, the group of cadets was lifted into the arena, and the buzzer sounded.

As the cadets surged forward, Ahsoka and Fives stared down into the training room. "What's the name of this squad?" Ahsoka asked.

"This is Zeta Squad," Master Ti replied. "They're very effective, if a bit…"

"'Unorthodox'?" Fives finished, smirking at Ahsoka.

"Yes, that would be appropriate."

Zeta Squad's shoulders were colored orange, while their cadet uniform was the same as the standard. The squad had a wide range of weapons at their disposal: Cadet 1 had a blaster rifle, Cadet 2 had a blaster carbine, Cadet 3 had a rotary cannon, Cadet 4 had a sniper rifle, and Cadet 5 had a blaster carbine and a vibrosword.

"What are their names?" Fives asked.

"1 is Tumbler, 2 is Reggie, 3 is Maverick, 4 is Comic, and 5 is Riley." Ahsoka frowned thoughtfully, and Shaak Ti answered her unspoken question: "Tumbler is very acrobatic, using rolls and dives to throw off his opponents. Reggie chose his own name, based off of a nickname from clones with desirable mutations. Maverick is aware of his surroundings, but he chooses to go off on unorthodox journeys to take out enemies. Comic is very humorous, keeping morale up during battles. Riley… Well, I'll let you discover that on your own."

Ahsoka gave her an inquisitive look before returning her gaze to the cadets. Tumbler certainly was a fitting name; Ahsoka watched as he rolled out of the line-of-sight of one of the towers, aiming his rifle at an incoming B2. Reggie ran forward, taking out two B1s and a B2. Maverick gave Riley a nod before taking his cannon and rushing towards the high ground on the side of the field. Comic distracted droids, attracting their fire and sniping them before they could advance. Riley and Tumbler nodded at each other, and Riley hopped over their cover and used the vibroblade to decapitate a commando and a B1.

Ahsoka smiled down at the field. "They're good… really good." Her jaw dropped when she saw Riley take off towards a tower. "Where is he…?" She was rendered speechless when the clone began to climb up the tower, dodging blaster fire the whole time. "Well, I'll be…" Comic sniped one of the commandos on the tower, while Riley vaulted over the edge of the tower window, slicing the second commando in half. The clone took control of the turret, helping Maverick to mow down droids left and right.

Shaak Ti shook her head and chuckled. "They are the most ingenious clones since Domino Squad. Riley always manages to surprise." Fives gave Shaak Ti a grin, which she returned with a small smile. Tumbler used Riley's distraction to prep his ascension cable. "Domino is still the only squad to complete the challenge without using ascension cables, however." Tumbler shot the cable above the citadel's turrets and scaled the walls. He grabbed the pike from the tower, and the gong sounded. The droids deactivated, and the clones cried out victoriously.

Ahsoka grinned. "Can we meet them?"

Shaak smiled gently at her. "If you'd like to." After a short walk, the three of them met the clone cadets at the top of the clones' lift. "Hello, Zeta Squad. I wanted to congratulate you on another job well done."

Tumbler grinned as he removed his helmet. "Thank you, General. I think that was probably our fastest time yet."

Fives nodded at them. "You're on the verge of breaking Bravo Squad's record, aren't you?"

Tumbler nodded as the five cadets stood at attention. "Yes, sir. It was an honor to have you watch our practice, ARC Trooper."

Ahsoka noted that Riley was the only one who still had a mask on. Additionally, his mask's visor was also much darker than the visors on the others' helmets.

Fives chuckled. "At ease, boys. I appreciate the respect, but we're all brothers. No need to be so formal right now."

Comic snorted as he looked at Riley, but Riley elbowed him sharply. "Yes, sir. No problem," Comic replied.

Shaak Ti smiled gently again. "Cadets, this is ARC Trooper Fives and Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano. Knight Tano was recently promoted, and wanted to meet some of our soon-to-be soldiers."

Reggie nodded at Ahsoka kindly. "It's nice to meet you, General Tano."

"It's nice to meet you, too, boys," she replied with a grin. She gave a gentle smile to Riley. "Could I ask you to remove your mask, Cadet?"

Tumbler frowned, taking a step closer to Riley, beside him. "We've all got the same face, General."

Ahsoka and Fives frowned, and Shaak Ti stepped forward slightly. "You can take your helmet off, Riley. I promise that they won't judge you."

Ahsoka's frown only deepened at that, and she shared a look with Fives. "Is something the matter, Riley? You don't have to remove your mask if you don't want to."

The cadet took a deep breath and raised his hands to his helmet. After another deep breath, he removed his helmet.

Or, rather, her helmet. Ahsoka and Fives were shocked to see that Riley was actually a female clone. She looked very similar to the males, except for slight differences in her features. She had the same sharp cheekbones and jawline, but her lips were fuller, her nose was rounder, and her eyelashes were fuller. She had her hair tied back in a short ponytail with bangs pinned to the side of her head and strands of hair framing her face. Ahsoka hadn't realized at first, but Riley was also a few inches shorter than the typical height for the clones. She ducked her head shyly and wouldn't meet either of their gazes.

Shaak Ti put a hand on Riley's shoulder and turned to speak to the two of them. "Riley was created with a very unique mutation: she has two x-chromosomes instead of an x and a y-chromosome. Many of her brothers have criticized her, and the Kaminoans nearly eliminated her and then nearly sent her to the medical wing without giving her a chance."

As Shaak Ti took a step back, Fives stepped forward and put a hand on Riley's shoulder. The woman wouldn't meet his gaze, but he spoke regardless, "Me and a few of the boys in the 501st have wondered what it'd be like to have a little sister." Riley looked up at Fives in shock, silently asking him if he was being honest. "I watched you fight alongside your brothers on that training course. You deserve to be a soldier just as much as any of us."

Ahsoka smiled as she watched the female trooper perk up. She stood tall (still a few inches shorter than her brothers) and puffed her chest out. "Thank you, ARC Trooper," she said, her voice higher than the other clones, but still deep and husky. "It'll be an honor to fight alongside you."

Fives nodded at her, smiling genuinely at her. "As General Ti said, this is General Tano. She may very well be your C.O. when you graduate."

Maverick grinned. "We heard there was a new battalion being formed: the 332nd. A few of the newest graduates will be going; that should include us."

Ahsoka gave each trooper a grin. "From what I saw out there, it'll be a pleasure to fight alongside each of you."

Riley returned the look with a small smile of her own. "Sorry about earlier, sir. I'm usually not that shy, but… it's not every day you meet a second Jedi and an ARC Trooper."

"It's no problem," Ahsoka assured. "I know from experience that first impressions don't always reflect who the person really is. If you five are assigned to my battalion, I'll be very excited to get to know each of you."

Comic snickered. "If you're anything like General Ti, you're gonna be sick of us by the end of day two."

Shaak Ti shook her head with a long-suffering sigh. "I assure you, Master Tano is nothing like I am."

Ahsoka gave the clones a wry grin. "You've probably heard of General Skywalker?" Each of the five nodded. "I was his Padawan learner. I was the commander of the 501st."

The cadets gaped at her, and Maverick laughed giddily. "I knew your name sounded familiar! The 501st is every cadet's dream legion."

Reggie shook his head but had a smirk on his face. "Not 'every cadet.' But we have heard a lot about General Skywalker and, by extension, you."

"Well, I hope I can get better acquainted with you all if you join my battalion. You've all got a lot of talent; we could use soldiers like you."

Comic elbowed Maverick with a grin. "Seppies won't know what hit 'em, General."

"General Tano, come in."

Ahsoka tensed at Jesse's voice. Hopefully, it would be good news. "Hold that thought, boys and girl." Riley's small grin helped to alleviate some of the worries in Ahsoka's mind. "I'm here, Jesse. What's the news?"

"Good news and bad news, I'm afraid."

"Of course," Ahsoka replied with a grimace. "I figured you'd say that. Good news first."

"Honestly, I think it would be easier for you to come and see for yourself. Bring Fives and General Ti, too."

"Alright. Be there soon." Ahsoka looked to Shaak Ti, and the Jedi gave each other a nod. "It was nice to meet you, Cadets, but duty calls. I hope to see you again soon."

Ahsoka, Shaak, and Fives took off towards the medbay, leaving five confused and curious clones.

And that's the end of that chapter. Unfortunately, I'll be going on a small hiatus. It shouldn't be too long, because I know what I wanna do next, but I've hit a bit of a block. Plus, I've gotta get ready for college in fall, and I still haven't even contacted my roommate, so this is gonna have to take a backseat for a little while. This story is one that I have a lot of ideas for, so I can promise that I won't be leaving this fic behind. I hope to see you guys again sooner than later; there's too much at stake to leave this cliffhanger unresolved.