Leaving Taun We's office, Corvus had time to kill before he met with Lama Su, so he decided in the meantime, he'd pay his newly acquired special forces unit a visit.
Arriving at the barracks set aside for CF-99, he briefly overheard a conversation.
"What do you think the surgery was about, Tech?" A voice asked.
"Well, Hunter, my theory is that-" Tech began only to be interrupted.
"I'll tell you what it was about, my mate, Fives, was right all along. We had implants in us, and the bastards killed him for it!" Another voice growled.
"Easy, Echo, we'll get to the bottom of this-hm, someone's at the doorway." Hunter whispered.
"Ya think e's that fella that ordered dem chips removed?" A man said in an overly exaggerated 'I am stupid' accent.
Corvus took this as his invitation to enter. Turning back to Yon & Jax, he gestured for them to guard the door once again.
"Can't we observe this time, master? I'm sick and tired of watching empty hallways!" Yon complained over the comm.
"Didn't you sense the two invisible clones following us? Master has a need for privacy, it is our job to keep them from interrupting his plans." Jax bit back.
"So what? I say we take care of them inside the room." Yon hotly retorted.
Corvus sighed at the rivals and their heated byplay. On one hand, Yon was correct. How was he going to teach them anything if they were always outside the room? On the other hand, Jax also made a good point.
Turning around, Corvus waved his hand, and cast [Mind Trick] on the pair of invisible clone assassins.
'Lock yourselves in a supply closet. This will be the best way to tail the Imperial officer.'
Feeling them move away, Corvus gestured again, this time for the two of them to follow behind.
"You are both correct in your assertions, however, killing them here would bring too much undue suspicion. During an infiltration such as this, having your cover blown is the most dangerous, and unwanted scenario. Knowing this, violence is often times the best way to be caught. If you absolutely have to murder someone-other than the target-do your best to make it look like an accident. Now, before we enter this barracks, do either of you have any questions?" Corvus explained the situation to them, and then asked.
Both boys were silent for about 10 seconds, and Corvus nodded. He sort of wished Zork was present, as that kid could really get into the weeds of an issue or topic. Shrugging his shoulders, Corvus figured they could go over the finer details of this op another time.
Raising his fist, he knocked on the door.
"This is Agent 007, requesting entry. I believe I have the answers to your questions." Corvus said in a modified voice through his helmet's speakers.
The door to the barracks slid open a second later, and he was met with the skeptical looks of 5 mutated Jango clones, and the curious gaze of a little girl.
As soon as he entered the room, Corvus sensed that they were all a little woozy from their recent surgeries, and figured that they would also be susceptible to the mental arts. While he didn't like doing this to potential allies, he had to be 100% of their loyalty. In the Bad Batch, Tarkin had Crosshair's inhibitor chip enhanced, to make him extra loyal to the Empire. Although that wasn't the case now, Corvus didn't want to take any chances on this lot, and cast a group [Mind Trick].
'Your loyalty is to your squad first and foremost. Whatever this man has to say, you are curious, and are receptive to learning the truth, whatever that may be.' Corvus layered on a simple suggestion.
Of course he could have done something like 'obey this man completely' but CF-99 were made up of the most special clones within the GAR. If anyone had the potential to resist his mind trick, it'd be them. So he went with something they wanted to believe in. They wanted to believe in their brothers, and they wanted answers. Answers Corvus would be more than happy to provide.
"Agent 007, sir? You must be the officer we've been assigned to. I'm Sergeant Hunter, this is Tech, Wrecker. Echo, and Hunter. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Hunter-a shaggy haired clone-nodded, notably refraining from saluting.
"You says you got answers for us?" The largest clone in the room easily dwarfing most clones in height-Wrecker-bluntly asked.
"Don't be rude, Wrecker, let Hunter do the talking." Tech-a skinny nerdy looking clone wearing futuristic glasses-held the big man back.
Crosshair-a bald cynical looking man-meanwhile silently sat at the back of the room, and regarded Corvus as if he were looking for weak points.
Corvus slightly inclined his head at the group, and then found a bench to sit on.
"What do you know of Order 66?" Corvus asked.
The clones shared a look, then Hunter stepped forward to answer.
"Sir, to eliminate all Jedi, sir!" Hunter stood ramrod straight.
"Yes, that is the basic idea of it. But you didn't follow that order, did you?" Corvus said idly, and played with an empty cup in his hands.
"Sir?" Hunter replied in a confused tone.
"Caleb Dume. Does the name sound familiar." Corvus set the cup down, then looked up to meet Hunter in the eyes.
"Sir, I-"
"I take full responsibility, sir. I took the shot, but he got away." Crosshair spoke up from his spot in the corner.
"Crosshair? You don't have to do this?!" Hunter said in disbelief.
"Crosshair is incorrect, sir, it was me, I couldn't catch him." Tech hurriedly stepped forward.
"Nuh-uh, it was me." Wrecker added on.
Echo was about to say something, but was interrupted as Corvus began to chuckle in a low tone.
"Your loyalty to one another is commendable. Brothers through and through. Relax, none of you are in any trouble." Corvus said in a light tone, and leaned back into his seat.
This act didn't relieve the clones' tension one bit, and in fact, they seemed more on edge.
"I had your chips removed for a reason, can anyone guess why?" Corvus asked, changing gears.
"So we fight better?" Wrecker supplied.
"To test our loyalty." Tech stated with certainty.
Tech's words hung in the air, and a pregnant pause-one which threatened violence-suffused the barracks.
"Yes to both." Corvus steepled his fingers, and said in a cheerful tone.
Noticing Crosshair subtly reaching for a pistol-but not drawing it-Corvus really was pleased with their level of comradery. They'd be willing to murder an Imperial officer within the heart of Kamino. If only such brotherhood was more commonplace in the galaxy.
"So what now? We were assigned to you, Agent 007, we must have some use, to aid you in your goals." Hunter reasoned, and at the same time, sent a quick glance back at Crosshair to stay his hand.
"Yes. I have a need for Clone Force 99. But more importantly, I am concerned with the safety of that child." Corvus pointed a finger towards the little blonde girl.
"What do you want with Omega?" Hunter barely said in a steady tone, yet he-along with every other clone-tensed.
"Her safety, of course. You know she is special, but why do the researchers keep her around? Compared to a Jango clone-bread from the most skilled bounty hunter in the galaxy-what does a girl offer to the army? What other purpose does she serve? You of all people should know how much the kaminoans hate imperfections." Corvus said in a plain tone, but made sure to sneak a barb into his speech regarding their creators.
The clones shared another look, and their distrust of Corvus reached new heights.
"Why am I special?" Omega stepped forward, and innocently asked.
"Omega, step back, we'll handle this." Hunter gestured for the child to stand behind him.
"The child has the potential to become a Jedi." Corvus dropped a bombshell on CF-99.
"Omega, a Jedi?" Tech looked at her with curiosity.
"So that's why you confirmed that we didn't follow Order 66." Echo said in realization.
At that, Hunter swiftly turned back to stare at Crosshair.
The bald clone took a heavy breath, then released his grip on the pistol he was holding behind his back. The two men nodded at one another, and then Hunter turned back to Corvus.
"What's a Jedi?" Omega asked, voice brimming with curiosity.
'Alright Persuade, don't let me down now.' Corvus thought to himself as he went in for a ballsy maneuver.
Reaching behind him, Corvus spawned a random lightsaber from his inventory, and then tossed it to the girl. "Catch."
Omega dexterously caught the object, and without any warning, pressed the switch activating it. Soft green erupted from the weapon, and hummed in the now dead silent room.
"Woah, cool!" Omega waved the beam of super hot plasma around like any kid would.
"It is, isn't it?" Corvus laughed.
"Omega, be careful! Anything that touches that light will be cut in half!" Hunter said in worry.
Corvus, meanwhile, eyed Crosshair the entire time. The man had been loyal to the Empire, but had ultimately joined his brothers. Without the implant, and having received his [Mind Trick], Corvus had been testing him, and CF-99 the entire time. If none of them turned on Omega after this stunt, then he would reveal himself.
"Sorry, sorry." Omega apologized, and deactivated the lightsaber.
"Sir. What are your orders, sir." Hunter all but growled out, clearly unhappy with what had transpired.
"Hunter." Tech said in worry, and eyed his blaster.
"I know." Hunter replied in a dark tone.
All this byplay hadn't gone unnoticed, and both Yon & Jax were very tense. The situation had reached a boil, and this powderkeg of mounting tension was ready to blow.
"Watch, and do nothing." Corvus said to the boys over the comms, then turned to address the clones.
"You lot probably think I want you to eliminate this 'Jedi' as a loyalty test, right? Couldn't be further from the tru-" At Corvus's words, Crosshair stopped holding back, and raised his pistol, then shot it at Corvus lightning fast. In fact Crosshair was so quick and accurate and was at such a close range, that Corvus almost couldn't block it in time.
Spawning in his lightsaber, he blocked the shot, then pulled his hand forward, removing the gun from Crosshair's hand. At the same time, Wrecker was moving to rugby tackle him, but Corvus repelled the big brute with a [Force Push]. Hunter had drawn a large vibroknife, and had was preparing to engage Corvus in melee combat, but stopped in his tracks.
Holding his lightsaber up at Hunter's chin, Corvus laughed once more as he saw a look of dawning realization upon the Sergeant's face.
"It can't be, you're a Jedi." Hunter said in an awed tone, and the knife in his hands clattered to the floor.
"Inconceivable. The Jedi Temple was a massacre, the odds of a Jedi successfully escaping a Clone Legion are approximately 3,720 to 1!" Tech exclaimed in awe.
"Zork would love this one." Yon mocked over the comms.
"I can see you and the large one have much in common." Jax replied.
"Hah, that's right!" Yon jeered.
"..."
Corvus ignored his students, and then deactivated his weapon, and removed his mask.
"So it was a test. A test to see if we would kill a Jedi…you shouldn't have endangered Omega's life like that." Hunter said in both relief, and with a hint of danger.
"She was never in any harm, and I apologize for the subterfuge, but it was necessary. You can understand my position considering recent events." Corvus said in a light tone.
"So what now?" Hunter wearily asked.
"Now, you come with me. That is, if you want to live."
"What do you mean by that?" Crosshair asked in a low tone.
Corvus paused to gather his thoughts. It would be too ridiculous to drop every single truth bomb on them, so he figured he'd go with a simple response.
"Palpatine intends to swap his consciousness into a clone body. One that is Force Sensitive. Omega here will become the subject of the worst experiments until she is terminated. As for you five, I needn't remind you how aberrations are treated by those long necked chalkskins." Corvus folded his arms, and gave them a very abridged version of events.
"So you want us to betray the Empire? Fight for the Jedi?" Crosshair asked.
"It was the Jedi who commissioned your creation in the first place, should your loyalties truly be to an Empire that sees you as nothing but expendable? In this room, I see 6 people. People who have a future other than war." Corvus met each of their eyes, and projected sincerity. "I don't need you to fight for me, but I will see to the safety of Omega. Whether that be as a Jedi, or a girl on some farm, Palpatine cannot sink his claws into her no matter what." Corvus said in a serious tone, and appealed to CF-99's sense of brotherhood.
The clones all glanced at one another for what felt like the tenth time, and once again came to a silent consensus.
"So maybe we do follow you. We know first hand how kind the Jedi can be, what would you have us do, kill the Emperor with kindness?" Hunter remarked in a sarcastic tone.
"I'm something of a special forces operative myself if you hadn't noticed." Corvus smiled, then held out his hand. "And please, call me Corvus."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: CF-99 get?
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