Family secrets
I lifted my heavy eyelids, vision somewhat blurry as I looked around and saw my room in perfect condition. I tried to move when I noticed a heavy weight around me.
I looked down and saw that there was an arm wrapped around me.
I repressed my instinct to scream and tried to wiggle my way out, but his grip was surprisingly strong for someone sleeping. Giving it up as a lost cause I sighed, remembering last night and the kiss...
It's all for my own benefit, yes, this is beneficial despite how much it unsettled me. With another sigh I tried to get up again when I felt him stir behind me.
"I see you haven't gone back into a coma."Anakin said wryly, his arm still around me, propping his head with his other hand, his smile was genuine but there was worry in his eyes.
"You merely... caught me off guard, no reason to worryl." I said, to which Anakin laughed.
"Good, I don't know what I would have done if I lost you again." Anakin said, before relinquishing his grip on me and getting out of bed, he had slept with his jedi robes on, which gave me some reassurance for obvious reasons.
I got up and looked around, but rapidly with a lamentable groan I sat up in bed again and looked around, searching for the tablet.
"Would you mind bringing me my tablet and some caff?" I said, getting ready to start my work day when Anakin looked at the tablet and then at my desk.
"No caff machine." Anakin said, which reminded me of Eplis' decision from the day before.
"I'd rather die than go without my morning caff." I said, my expresion falling as I thought about my future mornings without caffeine.
Life is hell.
The sound of the tablet falling on the bed jarred me from my misery.
I then felt Anakin run his fingers through my hair.
"Please don't kill yourself, think of those you would leave behind." Anakin said with sadness in his voice.
"...Can't even joke anymore." I grumbled, pulling his hand away, I picked up the tablet. Anakin moved away and began to stretch and exercise as I checked the tablet, seeing how Hestia, Hera and Medusa had organized themselves.
00:00 to 06:00 Hera, 06:00 to 12:00 Hestia, 12:00 to 18:00 Medusa, 18:00 to 24:00 Big Sister. Briefing and strategy meeting of the four sisters every day at 12:00. 10 minute breaks every hour, no drugs or stimulants of any kind are allowed.
"What the hell am I supposed to do from 6am to 6pm?" I asked out loud, I never slept more than 6 hours and I truly had no idea how to spend so much free time.
"Resting might be a good start." Anakin called from the table apparently tinkering on something.
"That's very inefficient." I replied. After all, sleeping away ten hours of your day is simply ridiculous.
"And what is sleeping for months?" asked Anakin.
"An accident that could have been avoided by sleeping six hours a day." I replied.
Anakin grimaced again, likely thinking something unkind.
"If you have to kill time, check with your doctor to see how many hours she recommends to sleep-. I need to train Ahsoka, I've been very negligent with her training so far." He said, turning around and holstering his saber, apparently done with what he was working on..
"Ok, I'll do it." I said, getting up from the bed as well and continued to check the tablet when Anakin stepped in front of me, I looked up and Anakin gave me a quick kiss on the mouth, taking me by surprise.
"I can try to go slow if that's what you want, I don't want to force you... and I'm sorry if I was too fast yesterday, it's just..."
A frustrated look flashed across his face.
"I kept thinking about what happened before you fainted, and I'm sorry. I'll go as slow as you need, I swear, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel that way." Anakin continued, taking me by surprise at his consideration...
I put on a small smile, this relationship was beneficial for both of us. I just had to get comfortable and Anakin was willing to wait for me to get comfortable.
"Thank you and don't worry… I just need time, but thank you for being considerate."
Anakin smiled and gave me a kiss on the cheek before disappearing out the door. I sighed and looked at the tablet.
"What a mess"
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nyx's face wore a sharp frown as she read the latest reports. She had been investigating the many incidents that occurred the day Tanya awoke. However all the reports led to nowhere, and she had no other leads to follow.
Sighing Nyx entered the concealed passage that led from her room. She soon entered a room with several doors with a round table in the middle. This was where her two greatest confidants met with her.
From two doors entered two figures, first entered Inquisitor, in charge of internal surveillance, his armor was red with additional bolts of obsidian cloth. He was also the man in charge of purging clones who proved… problematic or who were too loyal to the Kaminoans…
"Mistress of Secrets" He greeted, dipping his head. Nyx gave a small nod in response. At the same time the second figure was introduced, her Spymaster was a clone commando in charge of surveillance of non-clone targets. His armor was a far more advanced model than what the rest of the clone commandos wore, along with a small device that made his armor invisible, a particular gift of Mania.
"Mistress of Secrets" The Spymaster mirrored.
The three sat at the table and looked at each other. To an outsider it would appear that the three were having a staring contest. In actuality they were deep in conversation, speaking through their helms internal comms instead.
"Spymaster, do you know anything about the targets?" Inquired Nyx, to which he responded by handing over a tablet.
"Jar Jar is coming here?" Nyx voiced as she read the report. The Spymaster nodded.
"Sent by the Grand Chancellor himself. As to the anomaly all I know is that Master Obi Wan Kenobi is being sent to the galactic north, beyond the explored galaxy supposedly to investigate."
Nyx sighed, wondering what the Jedi had to do with the incident and why they sent Obi Wan so far north in the galaxy to investigate.
"Inquisitor?" Nyx asked.
The Inquisitor handed over his own report, silently Nyx began to read.
-No evidence has been found that Joker murdered Pong Krell, no evidence has been found that any of his legion committed the act. The Inquisition will cease investigating the survivors of Legion 77.
Subject Rex is still under surveillance. His anti-sister attitude continues to be active despite his personal relationship with Big Sister.
Clone Commander of the 67th Legion eliminated for anti-sister sentiments. Method of execution; detonation of LAAT he was occupying, ten clones lost as collateral damage.
A member of the Inquisition has deserted, reasons unknown.
Nyx nodded stoically. All operations were continuing as normal, a few deserters but that wasn't a problem. She was more worried about Jar Jar than anything else.
"Kill the deserter, our operations are necessary for the survival of our society. Those who don't know how to keep secrets will learn, by force if necessary."
Both the Spymaster and the Inquisitor nodded, a moment later an encrypted holocall blared across the table. The three looked at each other curiously before Nyx answered, Sev, from Delta Squad appearing before them.
"This is Sev, we have infiltrated the Malevolence, we report that the 12th sector army is still alive and active on Felucia. We request an immediate rescue operation, with an estimated seventy thousand survivors stranded."
The Spymaster opened a map of Felucia, the Inquisitor left, his business done.
Nyx then stood up from her chair.
"I need more information, enemy forces?" asked Nyx.
"Unknown, we estimate a minimum of 30-40 spacecraft of various types, confirming the Malevolence is in the area of operations."
"Have you had contact with the survivors?" Nyx asked.
"Negative, however, we have spent months aboard the Malevolence and have been able to identify the allied troops personally, unable to intervene."
Nys spoke aloud now despite her wishing to avoid any possible eavesdroppers, this was more important.
"Do you have any more information to share?" Nyx questioned, however before the clone could answer the holocall went dead.
Returning to the helmet comms Nyx spoke to the Spymaster.
"I want a report on my desk in an hour. I'm going to inform Big Sister".
The Spymaster nodded, disappearing through one of the many exits as Nyx leaned back in her chair deep in thought.
"There's something off about this... Grievous must know, he's leading us into a trap... I must warn Big Sister."
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medusa moved her body awkwardly, gauging her body's reaction time as she moved.
"You're fine, I told you that the body I created for you is perfect.," Mania enthused to Medusa, who looked at Mania with suspicion.
"It's just the lack of feedback… I'll never get used to not feeling anything... it's... torture." Medusa said sadly, to which Mania grimaced.
"I can create another body that will make you feel like the real thing, but that's going to take time... I'm sorry your body isn't right as you want" Mania said, Medusa just looked at the ground.
"My sisters hate me." Medusa said, "I want to cry but this wretched body won't let me." Curling into a ball next to Mania, Medusa felt naught but despair, but her body wouldn't even give her the mercy to cry. The longer this went on the harder it got to keep going. The weary ache in where her heart should be just grew and grew.
"Mania, you love me, right?" asked Medusa.
"Of course I love you, you're my sister. I promise I will create you a body that will give you relief, that won't make you feel sad, but you have to give me time." Mania said, hugging Medusa tightly. Medusa felt none of that comforting pressure, and it just made her feel more wretched inside.
The blaring of a holo-call could be heard instantly catching her attention, she accepted the holo-call as Mania listened in.
"Emergency meeting at the Maelstrom, your immediate presence is required, Big Sister will be waiting in the coordination room." Came the urgent voice of a clone.
Mania watched as Medusa stood and left heading for the nearest spaceport.
Before Medusa left Mania spoke up.
"I will call you every day and… I think you are one of the strongest people I know. I promise that you won't have to live like this for much longer." She said, her expression determined.
Medusa nodded once before disappearing. Mania grew saddened and the subdued response, but that just reaffirms her resolve to see this through.
"Bring in the big brothers," she commanded over comms to hers legion commander. The large doors to her workshop opened, revealing two clones in exoskeletal armor that was directly connected to their flesh; they were over ten feet tall, with large rotary cannons on each arm and an ominous glow coming from their packs.
"You requested us Mania?" Voiced on of the pair, his voice a deep baritone.
"You volunteered to test your flesh and metal... I ask for your services again for the sake of a sister"
The two Big Brothers shared a look before the other responded.
"We offered our bodies believing we would die for the greater good, living at all is more than we bargained for."
Mania stood up, approaching the Big Brothers, who dropped to their knees. Mania began by removing the helmet from both of them.
"In the future, when we all abandon the flesh of our slavers for the promise of steel, you will be remembered as heroes. So today I will develop a way for us not to lose our... humanity... in the process of abandoning the flesh. Medusa is suffering... I will help her with your sacrifice and with her the future of the clones."
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hera looked at the stars from a window, with the sight marred by the presence of Kamino.
"Living amongst the stars, what a beautiful dream." she said before heading towards the strategic coordination center. It was only a moment before she met Medusa, Hestia and Big Sister. She felt her face form a deep frown at the sight of Medusa. She and Mania were madwomen, madwomen who wanted to turn clones into droids. They and their ideas should have been purged, but Big Sister was too kind.
Turning Brothers and Sisters into droids... it was such a disgusting idea... Mania and Medusa... they go too far.
Sighing, she stepped forward, ignoring Medusa in favor of her other Sisters.
"What's the situation?" Hera asked.
"The 12th sector army is still alive, it's likely a trap from Grievous, he wants to bring us into battle on Felucia, and he's holding a hundred thousand or so clones hostage to do it." Informed Big Sister.
Hera looked up.
"Even if it is a trap we have to go," she said, "Our brothers must be saved." she concluded. To which the rest of the sisters nodded. Tanya in particular sighed.
"We will send the best of the best, we will go into battle but we need an overwhelming advantage. A hundred venators and my battleship, we will bring everything we have to reap what they sowed." Tanya replied. "We also need to discuss the strategy in greater detail but for now I need to speak to the Jedi Council and the Senate, get their approval for this mission."
Hestia and Hera responded in kind, with a look of utter disgust.
"We depend on our slavers to save our brethren?" Medusa asked, taking the phrase out of Hestia and Hera's mouth.
"It's procedure." replied Tanya, her tone brokering no argument. "Go prepare the legions, call the venators, send a missive to the whole army. Our brothers have the right to be informed about the situation." Ordered Tanya her eyes almost ablaze with determination.
"Won't that warn Grievous that we're coming for him?" Hera asked.
"That's the idea, I have a plan, if it goes well we'll deal a decisive blow against the separatists." Tanya said, placing a hologram of the Maelstrom on the table.
"We'll kill Grievous and save our brothers in one move." Tanya finished, before leaving the room to speak to the Council and Senate.
My brothers, hold on and survive, I'm coming for you, I will not abandon my family. Such thoughts consumed Tanya's mind in the days ahead.