Chapter 71

---3 Days Later, 3rd Person POV, Jedi High Council Chamber---

Handing over the two hundred samples they had collected on the battlefield, Anakin and Ahsoka gave a detailed report on a few incidents that occurred during their mission.

"Getting ahold of the samples was not as easy as I initially expected. The only time we had the opportunity to collect the samples was during combat. I was unaware of this, but the clones collect their fallen comrades after every battle so they can be transported away for a proper burial.", Anakin said.

"That is correct. Usually we have the clones buried on the battlefield, but sometimes the Kaminoans request the corpses be returned to them for recycling. While I am not one hundred percent on the details, I believe they re-add the corpses to the biomass vats.", Koth remarked, with an uncomfortable expression, "We usually refuse to hand the bodies over, but sometimes we are left with no other option."

"I was unaware of that, so I had Ahsoka follow one of the transport ships to their drop off point. She found the transporter handing off the corpses to an unmarked Kaminoan ship. Onboard the vessel, she spotted several marked droid soldiers that we are currently fighting against. The Kaminoans were not being held at gunpoint, they were working together with the droids.", Anakin explained, motioning Ahsoka to step forward.

"Here is a holotape with all the photos I took.", she stated, handing it to Windu.

Thanking the two of them for their hard work, Windu inserted the tape into the council's private terminal. Taking a second to load up the data, several dozen photos began popping up on their own projection screens. Taking a closer look at the droids aboard the ship, every agreed with Anakin and Ahsoka's suspicions. Faintly making out the Confederacy's emblem on a few of the droids, it was clear they were in league with one another.

"I am sorry to interrupt, but our contact was able to gain access to the biochip's data. They are sending over the decrypted code now.", Billaba informed everyone, "Sending the data to the terminal now."

Showing everyone what was programmed on the biochips, everything Victor warned them about was laid bare before them. Clearing seeing notations about Order 66 and its functions within the code, the atmosphere in the room became tense. Realizing that the republic had been inadvertently helping build a sleeper Sith army, the Jedi Masters felt utterly useless for not seeing things sooner. Just as they were about to take a moment of silence for their fallen comrades, they received a call from Obi-Wan.

Taking a second to compose themselves, they accepted the call and found Obi-Wan sitting in his room aboard the space station. Exchanging pleasantries with one another, their newest council member could sense something was amiss.

"Is everything alright?", Obi-Wan inquired, "All of you sound a bit gloomy."

"We just verified that Victor was indeed telling us the truth about Palpatine.", Tiin replied, "The clone troopers are equipped with a biochip that will turn them against us. All of us feel a bit frustrated with ourselves for not putting things together sooner. It took an outsider on the edge our country to show us the truth."

Understanding the conflicted feelings they had on the matter, Obi-Wan was content that the truth had been revealed to them before it was too late. Armed with this information, the priority now was devising a plan to stop Palpatine before he could initiate Order 66.

"How are things looking at the border?", Windu asked, changing the subject, "Were the refugees rescued?"

"Did you not receive my report? I sent the High Council and Senate an update on the situation here.", Obi-Wan said, rubbing his chin with concern, "All of the trapped refugee groups and hostages are safely in Republic territory. Victor destroyed the entire Butcherhorde Fleet without losing any of his vessels. In addition to that, I believe you will want to see something I never imagined I would witness in my lifetime."

Sending over recorded footage of Victor's Force Storm, everyone in the High Council Chamber fell silent. Watching the devastating power he unleashed on those misguided souls, everyone's evaluation of Victor changed significantly. Having initially regarded his force powers at above average, this feat alone elevated him to one of the strongest force users to have ever lived. Creating and maintaining a twenty mile wide Force Storm was something that not even the Sith Lords of the ancient past were capable of doing.

"As you were close enough to discern which way his powers lean, would you say he is Jedi material or a future Sith in the making?", Koon asked.

"He was in perfect balance between both the light and dark sides of the Force for the entire duration of the attack. Moreover, immediately after doing so he went and slew Khârn the Betrayer and several dozen Chaos Marines. The hostages who witnessed part of the fight claim Victor possesses the means to purify Chaos Marines.", Obi-Wan elaborated, "I am still a bit foggy on the details, but they said he cloaked his hands in a calm, white light and imparted the power onto a few of the Chaos Marines. Their bodies apparently could not withstand the power and turned to ash before their very eyes."

"What did the Imperium make of it?", Windu inquired, "I am certain they did not expect him to succeed and fought him over the ship they signed over to him."

"That they did, the Lord General Militant was absolutely livid about letting him take it. If the Warmaster had not stopped him, Victor might have killed him for backing out of our agreement. They are even more upset that he says he has spoken to the Machine Spirit aboard the Conqueror.", Obi-Wan stated, "Either way, the job was completed, and the refugees are safe."

Happy to hear that those poor souls were saved, the council's spirits were lifted a bit. Steering the conversation back to the compromised clones, Yaddle wanted to begin discussing options to remedy the situation.

"If I may, I have already secured Victor's assistance in helping us resolve the matter.", Obi-Wan said, "He already provided me with a plan to remove Order 66 from Palpatine's hand. It will involve getting onto Kamino and updating the programming for the clone trooper helmets. Victor believes that Palpatine has pre-programmed his verbal command into the helmets of every clone trooper which could be activated with a push of a button. Removing the verbal command from the helmet renders Palpatine's plan useless."

"He could still give a direct verbal command to them, but that would require him having access to a computer terminal or radio. We can resolve that matter easily enough ourselves.", Rancisis remarked.

"Once Palpatine is dealt with, we can focus our attention on safely defusing the biochips. Victor thinks that could be done by overwhelming the clone troopers with specific sounds. He would need to see the Kaminoans' data first, but he thinks it is doable.", Obi-Wan added.

"I assume he is not going to do this for free though. What has he asked in return?", Gallia inquired.

"He has asked for permission to craft his own lightsaber. I already agreed to his request.", Obi-Wan admitted.

Before anyone could voice a complaint, Yoda accepted Obi-Wan's decision. Looking at the Grand Master in shock, he explained his simple reasoning.

"A powerful ally Victor is. Him a lightsaber is no issue giving.", Yoda told everyone.

"I second the Grand Master's decision, Victor already possesses three of them so there should be no issue with allowing him to make one for himself. In fact, we could use this opportunity to potentially have him return the missing Sith Lightsaber in his possession.", Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed.

Seeing the logic in their thinking, the High Council accepted the terms Obi-Wan agreed to. Wanting to discuss how they would deal with Palpatine, the group began discussing how to best go about it with as few potential casualties as possible.

---Victor POV, Evening---

Delivering on my promise to make our first night together unforgettable, I booked us a stay at a resort world in the Algrand Empire. Reserving a private island in the middle of nowhere just for our group, we were hundreds of miles from the nearest person and that suited us just fine. Having spent the day playing on the island's white sandy beach and in the crystal blue waters, we retired to our villa around five in the evening. Serving us a steak and lobster dinner, the women happily scarfed the meal down with satisfied expression.

"I must admit, you have certainly made today one we will never forget.", Deidre admitted, with a smile.

"We need to do this more often.", Lucoa said, leaning back in her seat, "Getting to relax on a beautiful paradise like this was amazing."

"It was also nice to just spend time with one another, and not be bothered by other people.", Mylene added.

Voicing our agreement with that statement, everyone began to laugh as the robots cleared the table for us. Stepping out onto the patio, we sat down together to watch the sunset. Pulling my fiancées closer to me, Clarice and Olivia slid onto my lap while the others scooched in beside me. Feeling that the time was right to make my move, my hands began to roam their bodies. Reciprocating my advances, the women began loosening their bikinis for me.

'It looks like we are about to make love under the stars tonight. So be it!', I thought, leaning in for my first of many kisses tonight.