Ch. 1: The Phantom (Separatist) Menace

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

Betrayal!

It has been a few months since Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano was wrongly accused of treason by the Jedi Council and hunted by the Grand Army of the Republic. Believing his apprentice was innocent, Anakin Skywalker discovered the true villain was Ahsoka's close friend Barriss Offee.

Unable to reconcile her relationship with the Jedi Order, Ahsoka decided to walk away from the only life she had ever known. Tormented with his padawan's leave and the Council's misjudgement, Anakin tries to ease his pain in the frontlines as the Clone Wars ravage across the galaxy, not knowing that a new chapter in his life and a new responsibility awaits him...

Geonosis, 19 BBY

"We have recently arrived at the Republican outpost on Geonosis, Master Yoda." Obi Wan stated as he and Anakin stood in front of holographic projections of Yoda and Plo Koon. It was at the communication centre near the outpost shipyard filled with gunships and clone troopers marching across.

"Very good, Master Kenobi." Plo Koon answered instead of Yoda. "As you have been briefed, according to the latest reports of our scout teams on Geonosis, a whole tribe of Geonosians have mysteriously disappeared."

"Mysterious and non-pleasant, this is. Hrmmm." Yoda spoke. "Find the whereabouts of them, must you find."

"Me and Anakin will search the abandoned Geonosian village for clues along with the 501st. Although I hope that they are still alive, I shall consider a possibility of a Separatist rebellion on Geonosis. Since the Separatist Crisis, the Geonosians have been strong supporters of Count Dooku." Kenobi continued the report. "With Poggle the Lesser in Republican custody, they will need a powerful leader. Anyways, find the tribe, and discover whether they are plotting against the Republic or not." Plo Koon ordered.

"Knight Skywalker, a companion for you I have," Yoda suddenly turned his attention to Anakin, who was surprised. "Needing her help you will be. A good ally and friend she will be. A close eye on her keep."

"Yes, Master Yoda."

The holograms were gone, and the two Jedi were told of a T-6 shuttle, also known as the Jedi ambassador shuttle, approaching the base. Guessing that this was their partner in this mission, Anakin and Obi Wan went to the shipyard to meet her. At least according to Yoda it was a female. The shuttle landed in front of them, and a teenage girl came out. Kenobi guesses she was around 14 years old, but even at that age she was fairly small and slender. The girl had brown hair kept in a ponytail with a silka bead chain, and she was wearing a white loose-fitting tunic with side slits below waist on both sides, wide brown leather belt with rectangular silver buckle, some brown pouches, tan pants and tan ankle length shoes with leg wraps.

"Masters," Leia bowed after she approached the two Jedi generals. Despite seeing him for a short time and being younger than he was on the Death Star, Leia immediately recognised the Jedi with red hair, moustache and beard as Obi Wan Kenobi. She looked at Anakin Skywalker. 'So this is Vader,' Leia thought to herself. He looked about the same age as she was during the Battle of Endor. He was tall, had medium long brown hair, same colour as hers, a scar near his right eye. Apart from Obi Wan, whose Jedi tunic was beige, and just like the other Jedi generals wore gauntlets and armour on his forearms, which were white with the symbol of the Republic military painted on it, Anakin's tunic was dark brown, and he had one light brown armour on his left forearm, but no gauntlet, only a glove of the same colour, while he had a prosthetic right arm. Leia shivered as she remembered the condition in which Luke was when they rescued him on Bespin after being almost killed by Vader. 'Like father, like son,' Leia thought to herself, though her mind immediately argued that Luke was nothing like Vader.

She looked at Anakin's face. She had a mixture of disgust and confusion. He looked so young, so human, and he would be the monster terrorising the galaxy under the Emperor's will?

'Alright, Leia. Calm down. Do not let them read your thoughts,' Leia told herself. "Which one of you is Master Anakin Skywalker?" Leia asked. "That would be me." Anakin stepped forward with an answer. Leia tried to make her smile as impressive. "Nice to meet you, Master Skywalker. I'm Lena Luce. Master Yoda sent me to become your new padawan."

Anakin stood still, feeling his heart sinking as the girl looked cheerfully, though he sensed the smile was fake. Not to mention that he sensed various emotions spilling out past her shields; shock, anger, distress, but most of all fear and hatred. What troubled Anakin more was that all of this was directed at him, specifically.

"This must be a mistake, kid." he finally spoke and Lena's smile fainted. "No, it's not. Master Yoda personally assigned me to you, master." she protested, though Leia agreed with Anakin, or Vader, in this case, it was a mistake of assigning her to him. Obi Wan looked at her, using the Force to see if it's true. "It would seem she's telling the truth, Anakin. She is your new apprentice indeed." he spoke as well. Anakin swallowed. "I'm sorry, you can't be my padawan." he spoke.

Leia's face fell as she looked at Anakin with her blue eyes. Thankfully, Kenobi was present. "Lena, would you please wait for us here. Me and Master Skywalker have something to discuss." Leia shyly nodded and the two Jedi took a distance away from her. She didn't hear them due to the noise caused by the clone troopers, AT-ST and AT-AT walkers, and gunships moving by across the base.

"What were Master Yoda and the Jedi Council thinking, giving me another padawan after what they did to Ahsoka?!" Anakin almost yelled the soon they got themselves far from Leia to eavesdrop on them. "I honestly have no idea, Anakin. But I hope they're trying to make the right decision." Obi Wan answered. "The right decision? Did they really think that they could easily replace Ahsoka?" Anakin protested with rage. "Anakin, I know what you're feeling right now. I miss her too. I guess the Council believes that you are too attached to Ahsoka and they found a solution for you to continue to live one." Obi Wan continued.

"I should have expected that from you." Anakin grumbled. "You were one of them, Obi Wan. Maybe Qui Gon died because you just stood there and did nothing just like how you and Plo Koon just stood there when Ahsoka was misjudged."

Obi Wan tried to make a look as if he didn't hear that, though he was obviously hurt. "Anyway, you have a new apprentice and you must train her." he said. Anakin sighed. "Okay. I'm doing it, but only to get it over with. But I hope you know; she'll never replace her Obi Wan."

Obi Wan nodded and the two returned to Leia who looked at them concerned and worried.

***

"Never thought I would ever step foot on this dust ball, but here we are." Captain Rex grumbled as he was followed by clone commander CC-1119, better known as Appo. Both were wearing their Phase II armour with blue markings of the 501st legion. They approached the war room, displaying a holographic map. Rex noticed a girl was watching it alongside Skywalker, Kenobi and Cody.

"Rex, you're here." Anakin greeted him once he turned around and saw the clone captain and Appo. The girl shyly waved her hand, shyly saying 'hi'. Rex looked at her with concern. "Rex, this is Lena Luce, she is...is..." Anakin stammered. "Commander Luce is General Skywalker's new padawan. She will accompany him and the 501st from now on." Obi Wan finished for Anakin who shot a stare at him. Kenobi didn't notice that and made a gest for Rex and Appo to join in the briefing. "Alright. Anakin, you will take Rex, Luce and your battalion to search the temple. Cody and I will search the main hall. Stay vigilant and be careful, although Geonosis is under Republican control, there is a possibility of a strong Separatist hold of this planet." Kenobi stated. Rex looked at Leia with shock and disdain. Since the day she arrived on Christophisis, Captain Rex and Ahsoka Tano were close friends, and just like Anakin Skywalker, the clone missed the young Togrutan. Now the Council replaced her as if she was nothing but a B1 Battle droid that can easily be replaced by a new produced one.

"General?"

Anakin Skywalker turned towards Rex after Kenobi left with Cody, while Leia went alongside Appo to join the rest of the 501st. He knew that Rex also had a pretty hard time trying to adjust with Ahsoka gone. What made Rex even more miserable was that he had been one of the clone troopers that were hunting down Ahsoka across Coruscant when she was on the run. He believed that she was innocent, but still, that wasn't enough.

"So, you got a new apprentice?" Rex asked in a low voice, fingering his helmet. Anakin nodded tightly, sighing heavily. "Congratulations, sir...I guess." the clone captain said. The young Jedi knight chuckled darkly. "I guess I should be glad about it Rex, but to tell you the truth, I'm not happy about it. At all." Skywalker replied. Rex bit his lip, stroking his short blonde hair, thinking what to say until he muttered. "I understand...sir." They both stood there, trying to hard not to think about Ahsoka. Finally, Anakin decided to set his mind on something else. "Before we go Rex, I want to do the 'thing'."

Rex nodded and the two went to a private office which was empty. Anakin entered and closed the door with Rex standing to guard it. Once inside and assured that he is alone, Anakin took a communicator, pressed the button and a hologram of Padme Amidala appeared before her.

"Hello, Ani." Padme spoke, smiling at the sight of her husband.

"Hello, Padme." Anakin answered softly. "I missed you so much." he spoke once again after a moment of looking at each other. "I missed you too." she replied as they reached out to each other. "I'm in Geonosis now, the Council has sent me and Obi Wan to investigate the sudden disappearance of a whole tribe of Geonosians." he then told her of his mission. "What do you mean disappeared?" she asked, obviously shocked and interested. "Vanished, without a trace, as if they never existed." Anakin explained. Padme nodded with a concerned look. "I am sure you will find them, honey. Remember on Geonosis I confessed my love to you and we shared our second kiss?" she then asked, smiling. Anakin nodded as he smiled too. "Yeah, and I remember when Ahsoka was here too later." he then said and his smile faded. "Oh, yes. I remember you telling me of the clones being hypnotised by those worms and how they almost killed her and Barriss Offee. They seemed to be close. Who knew that she would betray her?" Padme muttered, sadness in her eyes.

"Too bad that the clones didn't succeed in killing her before Ahsoka freed them from the mind control." Anakin then stated darkly. Padme looked at her husband with a mixture of sympathy, sadness and concern. "I know that you and Rex are having a hard time. I too miss Ahsoka, Ani. She was a good kid, and a good friend. But you cannot change things. She chose her path. Maybe she will return to you, she just needs to think about her life, dear. Give her time." Padme advised Anakin. With a thoughtful look, Anakin nodded. He knew that Padme cannot give him a bad advice. They then stood like this for a minute.

"Something on your mind?" Padme broke the silence. Anakin sighed heavily, the least he wanted to think about is Ahsoka's replacement. "The Jedi Council has given me a new padawan." he finally answered reluctantly. Padme's brows moved. "So they just easily replaced Ahsoka with a new padawan?" she asked and Anakin nodded. "Have you met her yet?" Padme then asked once more and Anakin darkly replied 'yes'. "What is she like?" Padme asked suddenly, curiosity seizing her. "She is about 14 years old, brown hair, blue eyes. Nothing else." Anakin replied. "No, no, no. I meant, what is she like in personality. Cheeky, polite, or...well, you know what I mean?" Padme defined her question.

Anakin stood still. He didn't interact with his new Jedi padawan much, with him being cold to her. "Well..." Anakin began. "She seems to be a good kid. She's shy, polite and curious. Though she doesn't like me for some reason, even if she tries to hide it."

Padme sighed. "I know she will never replace Ahsoka. I agree that with you. But she can be a fine kid. Don't be cold to her. Give her a chance to show herself." Padme stated.

"Okay, I'll try."

Padme smiled. "I think you must go now. I love you Ani."

"I love you too." Anakin answered and the hologram disappeared. He was alone in the office again. Picking up the communicator, he opened the door and went straight towards the shipyard, with Rex following him.

Abandoned Geonosian nest, Geonosis

"501st, move out!" Rex yelled and the clones ran out of the Republic attack gunships that have taken them to the abandoned Geonosian hive nest inside a spire. Anakin and Leia also set foot onto the Geonosian sand. Once they entered the spire, some clones began searching at the temple outside. Anakin, Leia, Rex, Jesse, and a few other clones entered the temple. Leia immediately felt a chill. The temple, filled with statues of ugly and somewhat scary creatures and beasts gave her the creeps, as it gave her the feeling it was haunted.

Leia didn't really know much about the Geonosians, not to mention the fact she never saw a Geonosian before. All she knew was that Geonosis was a hot desert planet with organic-looking spires, the Geonosians lived in catacomb-like hive colonies beneath those spires, that they are skilled engineers, and that they joined the Confederacy of Independent Systems, building droids and war vehicles for the Separatist droid army. She reluctantly looked at one of the statues. By the Force, what a freak, the girl thought. It closely resembled a B1 battle droid, but it was an insectile species, and had wings. Also, the beast had a bulbous, thick-lidded eyes. Maybe that's a Geonosian Leia predicted, she wasn't sure. The 14-year-old looked around to ask somebody if that's a Geonosian or not. She immediately saw her master, she still wasn't able to call her father yet, Jedi knight Anakin Skywalker. From what Leia heard, he fought in both of the battles of Geonosis, with the second one ended in the capture of Poggle the Lesser, the Geonosian Separatist leader who was from the inner circle of Count Dooku himself.

However, Leia didn't call for him. While she did not have the desire to speak to him, she was also afraid to annoy Anakin, or even anger him. Although she didn't understand why, she knew that her master wasn't welcome with the idea of her being his padawan. Leia thought of asking Obi Wan back then at the base, but she brushed that idea. She then heard some clones talking and saw two ARC troopers talking with the clone captain that had a tally marks on his helmet. Leia recalled that they seemed to be close to Skywalker. This surprised her at first, as Leia didn't expect Vader to be close to somebody. But then she thought that their relationship was only professional. No wonder they would serve Vader then. However, she also believed that the clones were close to their general out of pure, blind loyalty (since they didn't hesitate to execute every Jedi, including the younglings, and even all those innocent women and children in the name of the Empire), not out of respect. She tried to remember their names. Oh yes; Rex, Jesse, Kix, Tup and Fives. Leia recalled the moment when Anakin introduced her to them.

They entered one of the gunships and immediately set off from the base. As they were flying across the planet's surface, Leia noticed that the clones were staring at her. She looked up at them, as they had their helmets off. Although they were identical in body and face, with some differences such as one of them was bald and had the emblem of the Grand Army on his face, while the other had the number 5 tattooed on his forehead, Leia immediately understood that they had different identities.

"By the way, Lena. This is Captain Rex, Commander Appo and ARC troopers Jesse and Fives." Anakin introduced her to the clones. "Boys this is Lena Luce. My new padawan."

"Welcome to the 501st battalion, kid." Fives was the first to speak to her after Leia shyly waved her hand again. "Thank you Fives. Why are you called like that?" Leia asked. "Technically my name is CT-5555, but everyone calls me Fives. You can call me that too." the clone explained. Leia took notice that Fives was nice to her. However, she was still worried by the clones' reaction of her being Skywalker's apprentice.

Throughout the rest of the flight, the clones didn't interact with her. Leia felt even more disturbed. First Anakin, now the clones. Though, some part of her mind didn't care, reminding her that Anakin was Vader, and the clones were the future stormtroopers that would attack her ship, Tantive IV, above Tatooine. They were just pawns of the Emperor, born and raised to kill innocent lives, nothing else. On the other hand, Leia wanted to get acquainted with them, as she was feeling lonely among strangers, who seemed to be not welcoming her.

Still, Leia noted to herself the following: Jesse was with the large Galactic Republic emblem tattoo on both his face and helmet and with a sense of humour but was still loyal and serious about the mission. Fives, another ARC trooper, had a strong ability to empathize and care for his fellow clones. Leia found that very odd from a clone. Kix was the squad medic. Tup had a tattoo of a tear on both his helmet and face. Leia wondered why but did not dare to ask. Commander Appo had a white arrow on the blue marking of his helmet.

As the three clones were talking, she decided not to interrupt them. Thankfully, or not, Commander Appo was approaching her, carrying his DC-15S blaster carbine. While she was glad that somebody decided to talk to her, she didn't really know what to talk about with the clone commander that she barely knew. Leia Organa, or as she called herself now, Lena Luce, gulped as Appo finally approached her.

"Something on your mind, Commander Luce?" he asked. The question caught her off because he called her commander. Yes, as a padawan, she was now a Jedi commander in the Grand Army of the Republic, but nobody called her like that before, even in the Rebel Alliance. "Y-yes." she finally stammered with an answer. She looked at the ugly statue. "Is that a Geonosian?" she asked, pointing at it. "Yeah, it is. Ugly aren't they?" he replied. Leia nodded in agreement. For her the Geonosian wasn't just ugly, it looked menacing. Leia feared that a living Geonosian hiding inside the statue would break out and strangle her. Just then, Anakin Skywalker approached them two with a few clone troopers following the young Jedi knight. "Found anything?" he asked. "Nothing sir." came the commander's short answer. With that, Skywalker pressed a button on his comm attached to his left hand.

"Admiral, did you find anything?" he asked.

"The planetary bioscan didn't do any help, General Skywalker." Yularen's voice was heard from the comm. "The only life signals in the region are the Republican troops."

"Keep an eye on things and contact if there is anything suspicious." Anakin told the admiral, turning off the comm before turning to the troopers. "Keep searching around. If we will not find the Geonosians, at least we can find some clues to their sudden disappearance. And watch out for the worms, the last time was enough." he ordered. "What worms?" Leia asked in curiosity. "Last time we were here, we came across worms used by the Geonosians to mind control the clones. They enter through your nose. So be extra careful." Anakin spoke to Leia for the first time since their arrival. Leia nodded, with the mere thought of a worm entering her mind through her nose made her feel dread as she looked pale. Skywalker, however, didn't notice that and joined some of the clones.

Knowing that Skywalker doesn't want to talk with her again, Leia sighed heavily and strolled across the hall. 'Why is like that to me? Maybe that's what it means that a Jedi must not have attachments', Leia thought, trying to comfort herself. 'Maybe because he is Vader?' her mind spoke mentally. 'He's nothing more than a killing machine, who doesn't know anything about love, empathy, or friendship.'

'Well, yeah. But he looks so human, in flesh and blood,' Leia argued to herself. 'Maybe he was a killing machine in flesh before becoming a killing machine basically,' her mind answered back.

She then, walked to the entrance of what seemed to be a larger hall. When she entered it she stood in awe. The hall was large cave with some Geonosian statues standing along the columns and stalagmites of the cave. Leia looked up and saw large stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The teen girl gulped with the mere thought of one of the stalactites falling on her. At the same time, Anakin and the clones have passed her as they entered the hall. It was dark inside, so Appo commanded all clones to turn on the night vision mode on their helmets. Suddenly, Leia felt something, a presence, lurking in the darkness. She looked around but didn't see anything. That was odd. It was as if somebody, or something, was near her. Leia trembled in fear. The Geonosian statues already gave her the creeps, now this. Out of instinct, she quickly ran to Skywalker, who suddenly stopped. All this time, Leia was afraid to talk to her master, but this time the padawan knew she must speak to him.

"Master, I sense a presence. Yet, I see nothing here." Leia whispered in fear. Anakin looked at her. It was obvious to him that the girl was scared. "There are here," the Jedi knight muttered to himself. Suddenly, he drew out his lightsaber and swiftly slew an invisible object right behind him and Leia. Due to being damaged, it became visible. To the girl's shock and horror, it was a droid two meters tall with four articulated pincer legs for traveling, a repulsorlift to further support the weight of its cylindrical body, and three laser cannons on its chest. Leia looked at the machine in fright as Anakin used the force to push it away. Suddenly, blaster shots were fired at the Jedi and the clones.

"Chameleon droids!" Rex yelled.

Using the Force Anakin sensed the location of the invisible droids and attacked them with his lightsaber. "I do not need my eyes to see you, droids." he snarled. Leia was scared as she got in a crossfire. She quickly ran and hid behind a flowstone, grabbing her head, again. She was frightened, she panicked, she didn't have the idea of what to do. Leia then noticed the presence of another invisible Chameleon droid. Through the Force, she knew that the droid was going to fire at her. 'What must I do?' she thought desperately. She then remembered her lightsaber. In despair, she drew out her lightsaber and dodged as red blaster shots appeared out of nowhere. Using the Force, Leia sensed the droid and stroke one of its legs, before stabbing the droid's sensors with her lightsaber, with its blade having a cornflower blue colour. With the droid disabled and being able to withstand a Chameleon droid, Leia proceeded to hunt down the others as Rex commands the clones to switch their vision mode to scan and see the droids.

Leia ran through the cave and sensing another droid, she predicted where its head was. She leaped on the invisible head and stabbed her lightsaber into it, copying the fighting methods Master Skywalker was now using. With the droid destroyed, Leia tried to repeat the process by jumping onto the second droid nearby but missed and fell onto the ground. When she stood and turned around, the droid has turned off his camouflage and aimed at the teenage girl. "No, please." she begged, but then Anakin attacked the droid from behind, saving her.

"Master Skywalker, I…" Leia mumbled, looking up at him.

"You've got to be careful!" Anakin gave out to her before blocking some blaster shots with his lightsaber. Leia grabbed her lightsaber with the Force and joined him as well. "Incoming from above!" one of the clones. Everyone looked up and saw more Chameleon droids, no longer invisible, crawling along the stalactites and the walls of the cave. Some clones led by Tup and Fives fired at the droids above, while Rex and the rest continued to fight the ones on the ground. After blocking some of the shots, Anakin stretched his left hand up, and a stalactite broke before falling onto a pair of Chameleon droids, crushing them. He repeated using the Force to crush the droids before making the droids above either to fall to the ground or on to the other droids, smashing themselves and the droids they hit, or to smash at each other in midair. Leia thought that they won once the last Chameleon was destroyed, but her joy was short-lived as she heard intensive beeping from above. She looked up and saw mines attached to stalactites.

"Everyone to cover!" Jesse yelled as everyone ran to either exits of the hall.

Leia ran as she heard a couple of explosions above. Suddenly, a stalactite stroke the ground right an inch from her, causing the girl to fall. She looked up and saw a rock was going to fall on her in less than a minute. Leia closed her eyes, awaiting for her death… But nothing happened. The rock didn't crush her. Leia opened her eyes, scared to look and her jaw dropped. The rock was floating above her. She looked around and finally saw Skywalker with his arms stretching out, using the Force to hold the rocks and stalactites above her and some of the clones.

"Go!" Anakin shouted to everyone he saved. He didn't have to say it twice, all the clones and Leia herself stood up and ran towards the closest exits they found. Leia quickly dodged every falling stalactite or rock as she reached the exit from which she and the squad came. The teenage girl barely entered the smaller hall before a rock had a chance to fall and crush her like a tomato. She fell onto the ground and crawled to a wall, breathing heavily. Her hands were trembling, barely holding her lightsaber. Leia was frightened, obviously from being on the brink of death, no matter how many times she was like this during the Galactic Civil War. She began to wonder why she suddenly began to become inexperienced in situations like these…

"Hey, kid. Are you okay?" the voice of Captain Rex suddenly brought the petite teenage girl back to reality. She twitched at his voice and looked up at the clone captain, who kneeled before her, taking off his helmet. Apart from other clones, Rex's hair was blonde, but short. "Yes, I…think so," Leia croaked. Rex then stood up before offering Leia his hand. She reluctantly grabbed it and the clone pulled her up. With the other clones they rejoined the rest of the squad. As Anakin looked around, his com-device beeps and he answers the call.

"Skywalker speaking."

"Anakin, are you alright? What happened in there?" Obi Wan's voice was heard, filled with worry. "We've been ambushed by a group of Chameleon droids and lost some of the troopers, but we're alright." Anakin answered.

"Where's Lena? Is she safe?" Obi Wan asked. Anakin looked around, searching for the girl until he found her with Rex. "She's safe, Master Kenobi." Anakin called back. "I'll send backup for you; Cody and his forces will secure the nest. Do not continue your search until the reinforcements arrive." Obi Wan's concerned voice spoke again. Anakin then looked at Leia and the clones. "Alright, everyone stay on guard. They is a high possibility that there may be more droids lurking in the nest." he ordered. Leia looked at Anakin, who didn't approach her. She lowered her head in sadness and despair. 'At least Master Kenobi cares for me,' she thought to herself. Instead of attaching her lightsaber back to her belt, Leia held it tightly in her hand if anymore foes will appear on the way. She never was a fan of lightsabers, preferring blasters like Han, but right now that weapon was the only thing that she could use to protect herself. Thankfully, some basic sword-fighting skills Yoda and Luke gave her, back at the temple and on Endor respectively, were useful, though he said that Skywalker would teach her the rest. 'What did Yoda say?' Leia tried to remember. 'Oh yes; your lightsaber is your life.'

***

The team went further deep into the catacombs shortly after backup was received. As Leia followed Skywalker, she wondered what the Chameleon droids were doing here in the first place. Well, she heard from her parents that shortly after the first Battle of Geonosis, the Republic forces still found hive-colonies filled with Separatist forces, but these droids were in a nest of a Geonosian colony that had mysteriously vanished! Leia had a bad feeling that this was no coincidence.

As usual, Anakin ignored her, interacting only with clones such as Rex and Fives. It was like this for the rest of the journey down the tunnel until the party entered another large cave. However, it seemed that it was dead end. "We have to find something, like a secret passage or something." Anakin proposed and the clones along with Leia went to search the cave. The search lasted for half an hour, with the clones giving up. Leia decided to do the same when she heard the sound of wind coming from the right of her. She turned and saw a spider web stroked by the wind. She took a look at where the wind was apparently coming from and approached the wall. 'As if it is a sealed passageway,' Leia thought and tried to push the wall, but to no avail. She ran back and looked for some of the clones she already knew by name. When she needed help, Leia used her position as a senator and Rebel leader to summon subordinates both from the Rebellion and the Empire. She noticed Fives and Jesse.

"You two, come here! I think I found something!" she cried to them, drawing the attention of others. The two ARC troopers scorned at her, but they ran towards her and she showed them the apparent sealed passageway. Once they noticed that wind was coming from that direction, they grabbed Leia and pulled her away. "Better to stay away for your safety," Jesse explained as he and Fives took out some grenades and planted them on the wall. Leia frowned at the clones, as she didn't like being grabbed, especially by a clone. The three went to cover before the explosion. Then, the trio approached the hole and saw a sealed tunnel. They were soon joined by Anakin and the others.

"Well done, guys." Anakin praised before contacting Obi Wan who said that he will join them with a few troopers. Leia meanwhile looked at the dark tunnel. Through the Force she felt that there was something menacing out there, not just some camouflaged Chameleon droids, something more. She looked back towards the others, who were preparing their weapons for any possible threats. Suddenly, she heard what seemed to be a shriek. It was coming from the tunnel. Gulping, Leia slowly entered the tunnel. She heard the shriek once again, this time more louder as she walked deeper. "I have a bad feeling about this," she said to herself. After walking through the tunnel, she finally saw a gap. Shrieks and noise of machinery were heard. Leia crawled towards the gap, trying not to be discovered and peeked.

Leia Organa couldn't believe her eyes. What she saw was a large droid factory, hidden deep in the caves under the spire. Everything was filled with machinery used to build the droids, or clankers, as Rex and others call them, with the Geonosians working. They walked across the yards along with the B1 battle droids, some were flying around. What gave her the most shock and horror was that it seemed that children were also working on the factory, apparently due to their size. Leia couldn't differ a male Geonosian from a female, but she had a feeling that girls were also sent to hard labour.

She then saw the source of the shriek, what seemed to be a young Geonosian was partly crushed by one of the machines. It shrieked in pain. Some of his kin tried to help, but a Geonosian with a whip approached and began yelling at them something in Geonosian. The youngling just continued to shriek and whine from the pain, which led to the others try to help him, only for the annoyed adult crack his whip at them. He continued to do so as they fell.

Right now, Leia felt rage, and anger. Maybe the Geonosians were ugly, but every race and species in the known galaxy did not deserve to be enslaved. She remembered what the Empire did to non-humans, especially to Wookies. With that, she grabbed the nearest rock and threw it at the Geonosian. The creature roared in pain before looking up along with the others.

"Jedi!" one of the droids cried out, pointing at Leia. 'Leia, you shit!' Leia thought to herself as she immediately hid, only for her to hear Geonosians shrieking nearby. She turns around and sees a whole flock of Geonosians swarming through the tunnel towards her. Her instincts told her one thing; run.

***

While Leia was exploring the tunnel, Anakin, Rex and Obi Wan have prepared their forces only to discover that Skywalker's new padawan was gone. They immediately guessed that she went into the tunnels and immediately went after her. Obi Wan could sense the frustration and fear for the girl inside Anakin. He understood, for once he felt the same whenever Anakin ran away or was lost when he was a padawan. The Jedi drew out their lightsabers when they heard shrieks and blaster shots. Soon, they saw a frightened Leia running towards them, pursued by a swarm of Geonosians. Once the insectoids saw the clones, they began to fire at them. The clones immediately answered with fire. Leia barely managed to not get shot by both, fighting the urge to yell at the clones not to fire as they could hit her, but fear and horror took over as she ran towards Anakin (much to her surprise) while he and Obi Wan blocked the blaster bolts. She stood behind Skywalker, catching her breath, and watched as the Jedi and the clones fought the Geonosians. Soon, the Geonosians were outnumbered, but continued to fire until they were all gunned down.

"Master Skywalker, there was… there was…" Leia tried to speak. "Where have you been? Why did you run away?" Anakin asked her instead. "I heard a shriek, and… and I saw the tribe. Working on a factory, full of battle droids!" Leia continued. Anakin gave her a stern look, but ran down the tunnel, followed by Kenobi and the clones. Leia followed the party. They returned to the gap and saw the factory. "Another droid factory!" Kenobi exclaimed. "And look! These droids, they are colored just like the ones from the…"

"From the arena." Anakin finished for his fellow Jedi. Leia looked puzzled as she looked at the two Jedi generals. 'What arena are they talking about?' she thought. Just then, a siren went off, and the party saw the Geonosians panicking. "They are setting up the self-destruct sequence!" Obi Wan deduced. "We must prevent it! We need to save the civilians and the information of this facility!" Anakin declared. Leia looked at Anakin, surprised by his sympathy for non-human species. "Alright, Anakin and Lena, you will find the control room and prevent the facility from self-destruction! Me and my units will distract the main Separatist forces!"

Anakin nodded in response and motioned for Leia and his clones to follow him. They found an entrance into the facility. Kenobi, Commander Cody, and their clones appeared behind a large group of armed Geonosians and battle droids, along with some Dwarf Spider Droids and Droidekas. "I see we are not late for brunch," Kenobi spoke, attracting the attention of the forces.

"Blast 'em!" one of the droids yelled and they began to fire at the Republic forces. Meanwhile, Anakin and Leia led their forces through the facility, taking down some droids along the way. Leia didn't know nothing about some arena, but Obi Wan was right, as far as she could remember from the holo-recordings, the B1 Battle Droids were usually colored light yellowish, these ones were more reddish. They finally made way to an elevator which led to the control room due what Leia saw through the window on top and was guarded by more Droidekas. Using the Force, Anakin lifted them in air while the clones threw grenades precisely below the Droidekas and their force fields. Anakin lowered them back to their places, only for the deadly machines to be struck by the blast of disruptive electrical energy released from the grenades, disabling the Droidekas. With that, Anakin and Leia entered the elevator along with Rex, Fives, and Jesse, while the rest led by Appo remained on the ground level.

The ascended to the next level. Once the doors opened, the party immediately encountered a few B1 droids with two Tactical droids and a Geonosian. The Separatists immediately saw them and aimed the B1 droids aimed their blasters at them, only for Anakin and Leia dash into the room and cut down most of them droids while the clones took down the rest. The Tactical droids just stood there, bewildered, and so taking them out was also easy. The Geonosian spoke something in his native language. From the emotions and by the way he spoke, Leia guessed that he was saying something like 'oh shoot'. Both Anakin and Leia saw that he was about to press a button.

"Lena, keep an eye on him! I will try to turn off the program." Anakin ordered as he approached the control room. Thankfully, the technology and functions here were precisely the same as on every Separatist facility, and in Galactic Basic. Leia, being curious of what her master was doing, looked at him. The Geonosian, using the opportunity, pressed the button and a siren went off. Everyone looked first at the Geonosian then at Leia with disdain. Anakin quickly pressed a few buttons, and a flash drive drew out of the main computer. He took it before pressing on his com-device.

"Obi Wan, the facility is going to be destroyed soon. From what I understood, there are large stalagmites filled with explosives. They will detonate, causing the stalagmites fall onto the facility, crushing everything and everyone." Anakin reported. "We don't have time to evacuate the tribe, I'm afraid." Obi Wan answered. "No, there must be a way out for them!" Anakin argued.

"There is no way," someone spoke, and everyone looked at the Geonosian.

"What are you talking about?" Leia asked him. "Under the orders of my master, I made sure that the workers had no escape route and that the technology, and the produced machinery will not be seized by the enemy. You may conquered our planet twice, but the great people of Geonosis will never kneel to foreign scum! We would rather die!"

"Please tell us. There are children out there!" Leia pleaded to him. "I will not talk, Jedi. And your mind tricks will not work on me…" the Geonosian boldly answered, only to Leia's horror, began choking and he desperately grabbed his neck. Leia heard about it and saw it many times. She turned towards Anakin, or Vader, and her fears were confirmed. Right now, Anakin was Force-choking the creature, just like he would do later during the years of the Galactic Empire. Many times, more than enough, Leia saw Darth Vader Force-choking innocents for interrogation (and possibly for entertainment, Leia thought), and not only them, but she heard that many Imperial officers, unfortunate to serve under the Sith Lord, were choked to death for even the smallest mistake they made.

Right now, Leia didn't see the human Jedi knight, but Darth Vader once again. She hated the Sith Lord for all his actions, including torture. She wanted to protest, to cry out to him to stop, she even wanted to jump on him. To her shock and surprise, Leia, fueled with anger and hatred towards Vader, jumped on Anakin. Skywalker lost concentration on the Geonosian, who tried to fly away, only to be shot by Fives, while Rex and Jesse, shocked by the padawan's actions, grabbed the girl, and pulled her away from their Jedi general. They held her tight as she tried to resist, throwing insults at them.

Anakin looked at the girl, bewildered, only for explosions to occur as the stalagmites begin falling on the facility. Anakin's com-device began beeping again. "Skywalker, speaking," Anakin replied. "Anakin, where are you? The facility is being destroyed. You must evacuate!" Kenobi yelled through the device. The five headed towards the elevator and descended to the ground floor, where they were rejoined by Appo, Tup, and others. Together, they ran back where they came from, dodging the falling rocks and stalagmites on their way, while more explosions were heard nearby. Sadly, some clones were crushed. The company made their way to the tunnels and rejoined with Kenobi's forces just before more rocks fell on them.

Once everyone gained their breath and calmed down, Anakin pulled Leia towards a corner and looked at her. She could feel the fury inside him. "What the bloody Sith was that?" Skywalker asked. "What was what?" Leia tried to feign innocence. "You know what I'm talking about. You jumped on me and allowed for the enemy to escape, and he would have if not for Fives!" Anakin continued. "You were torturing him! That's not what the Jedi do!" Leia immediately argued. Anakin sighed; the girl was right. Using the Force to choke people was not the Jedi method of interrogation, but back then he felt rage. Angry at that Geonosian for letting his own people, including women and children, to be enslaved by the Separatists and then kill them all. Not to mention that mind control did not work on Geonosians, at least on Poggle the Lesser.

"Maybe you're right. Anyway, we cannot fix everything. Let's go, Leia. We must report this incident to the command." He spoke softly. Leia on the other hand, continued to look at him with disdain and hatred. 'Vader,' she mentally called him, but he didn't notice that as she followed him along with the rest towards the exit.