Saga - PT "The Clones of Kamino" (OCs, short story, COMPLETED)

Findswoman Thank you so much for keeping with this. I'll be honest, the full enormity of what was happening with the Niorde Protocol kind of passed me by at the time in the RPG - I was focused in keeping Maya alive in the middle of the battle, finding Flint, and going after Mandalore. Only later when the dust settled and I started to make notes for the story-form did I realise what a brilliant twist that was: All credit to the GM... (and yes, it was his own idea)

Chapter 13​

“WHAT THE FIERFEK IS GOING ON?” yelled Flint. He ripped off his helmet and Maya was suddenly looking into the face of Mandalore. She took a step back, blinked. Now she saw the face of the trooper who had blasted her during the training drill. Down in the arena, clones fought savagely with their brothers and chaos reigned. She activated her lightsaber and retreated another step.

“Wait,” said Flint. “I’m me!”

For the first time she noticed an O-shaped scar across his neck. It was faint, but it marked him as different to the others. She peered into his eyes, but saw only confusion – and fear. He could no longer designate his enemies, or his brothers.

“What’s Niorde?” he demanded with a grimace.

“The secret programme,” breathed Maya. “It must have turned the clones against the Republic… that’s what Mandalore set in motion when he first got in here."

“Mandalore?” snarled Flint. “You mean Alpha-02?”

“Who?” said Maya, but Flint had already turned on his team-mates.

“Blanco, are you still you?”

The pilot took off his own helmet. “I fuju well hope so!”

Satisfied, Flint confronted Marker. “Marker, say something now!”

The scout stepped backwards. “Err, something?”

“He’s OK,” said Flint. They surveyed the carnage of the arena. The legionnaire droid squads were taking advantage of the confusion, breaking out in groups towards the lift exits at the perimeter. Maya spotted Mandalore’s armoured outline as he led the furthest team.

“They’re coming up! We’ve got to stop them!”

Tramping boots heralded a squad of androids coming around the curve towards them. The clones of unit ARC-3-1 replaced their helmets.

“Marker, Blanco; this is it. Hold this line.”

“Nothing gets past us,” said Blanco, and he took cover with Marker as the enemy approached. Flint turned to Maya.

“We go that way,” he pointed. On the far side of the arena, they spotted another android squad charging along the corridoor towards the lab doorway. Maya gulped and nodded. “Tio, come on!”

They dashed along the passage as a firefight erupted behind them. Maya resisted glancing back towards Marker and Blanco.

“Don’t worry. They’ll hold,” said Flint.

As the tunnel curved towards the entrance to the GCC lab, the commando and young Padawan came into sight of four legionnaire droids guarding its doorway. Blaster rifles rose and ruby arrows scorched the air around the pair.

Flint hugged the passage side, returning fire from the hip. Maya strode onwards, batting back blaster bolts with her lightsaber. The exchange of screaming blasts intensified with every step they closed. One android fell, caught by a deflected bolt from Maya’s sapphire blade. At twenty metres Flint dropped into a crouch then hurled a grenade along the passage. The ion-burst explosion disabled the remaining humanoids, which jerked then fell, lifeless.

They reached the closed portal to the laboratory.

“Locked, from the inside,” grunted Flint.

“Not for a Jedi,” said Maya, brandishing her blade.

More clanking footsteps approached. Maya saw the shadows of another phalanx of androids before they emerged from around the curved corridoor. She exchanged a glance with Flint.

“Mandalore’s inside,” she said. “We’re running out of time.”

The gladiator nodded. “You go in. I’ll cover your back.”

“Flint… there’re too many…”

“Not for an ARC.”

He palmed another grenade, checked the charge on his carbine, then charged down the passage towards the invaders. Maya took a deep breath, stepped back, then stabbed her blade into the control panel beside the control centre’s doors.

It took several moments to burn through the advanced plasteel, and she was dimly aware of Tio catching up behind her. Then, finally, the panel disintegrated and the portal irised open with a swoosh.

“Stay here,” she said to the little astromech droid, then stepped in.

Across the room, she saw the grey-armoured bulk of Mandalore. His helmet was placed on one of the apparatus slabs nearby. Wires trailed across the walls and led to a pack full of explosives. The mercenary general finished the setting then turned to face her. He snarled with recognition.

“I should have killed you when I had the chance, Jedi.”

“That’ll be the last mistake you ever make.”

“We will see…”

.​

 

Findswoman Nearly there! Time for the Saturday catch up...

Chapter 14​

MANDALORE DREW HIS RIFLE with practiced swiftness. A stream of blasts spat from the compact, high-powered carbine. Maya leapt to one side, lightsaber spinning and deflecting. Diverted bolts smashed computer screens on the walls and Maya winced at the damage to the sensitive control centre.

She could spare no concentration on trying to deflect the blasts to safe directions. The mercenary was too accurate, and his assault weapon fired at a fearsome automatic rate. Maya sent back bolt after bolt until a touch of luck – or the Force – came to her aid. One blast ricocheted straight back down the trajectory it had come and struck the elite warrior’s arm. The carbine split and he dropped the useless weapon.

Before she could press the advantage, Mandalore growled and raised his left arm. Maya noted a nozzle jutting from another weapon built into his armour’s vambrace. A cone of fire hissed toward her. Yet another of Flint’s pronouncements flashed through her mind. Lightsabers can’t deflect a blast!

The agile Padawan tumbled to one side, avoiding the expanding cloud of superheat. Flasks and canisters of liquids on the equipment benches popped as the jet of fire chased her around the room. Automatic fire-prevention systems activated and microsprinklers embedded into the ceiling burst into action. For the fourth time that day, Maya was soaked to the skin. Lights went out, quickly replaced by red-alert illuminations. Sirens harangued the fighters.

Maya cartwheeled, seeking cover from the roaring serpent of fire directed by Mandalore. Finally, it abated then sputtered out. Maya guessed the arm-mounted weapon had a limited fuel supply and rose again.

Reverting to his right arm once more, the Mandalorian warrior activated yet another tool incorporated into his armour. A metal cable snaked out. Before Maya could react, the sinuous line wrapped about her upper body. Mandalore yanked it taut, pinning her arms to her sides. The mercenary pulled again, hauling Maya over a bench, smashing her through experiment apparatus. She flopped to the floor the other side, struggling against the bonding cable. Mandalore dragged her sliding along the wet deck. Finally she got her lightsaber at the right angle and activated it. It severed the line that tethered her to the Mandalorian and the tightness immediately relaxed.

Maya struggled to her feet, wriggling free of the cable, aware that Mandalore was charging at her. She threw off the loose wire just too late. Mandalore leapt into a flying kick. His armoured boot rammed right into her chest, throwing her backwards and onto her back again. Her lightsaber blade died and the hilt skidded away.

Mandalore followed up instantly with the elite soldier’s killer instinct. He knelt astride her and they wrestled on the water-slicked deck plates. He caught her left wrist in his right hand and pinned it down. She tried to wriggle free using her legs but her sandals slipped and slithered. Then he brought his left forearm above her neck and a jagged line of razor-sharp blades clicked out from the vambrace.

Maya grabbed his left wrist with her right hand and arrested his downward stab just millimetres from her throat. They strained for some moments, locked in the pose. But Maya could predict the only outcome. He was bigger, heavier, stronger. It was only a matter of time before her strength sagged and gave way. An almost inaudible ultrasonic whir told her they were vibroblades. They would cut through her skin and bone like a lightsaber through plastic wafers. Mandalore grinned, also coming to the same realisation.

Maya looked up into the identical face of Flint, and now saw the deeper creases, the old scars, the minute differences that told them apart: The eyes, full of hatred. The vibroblades inched closer. A sharp pain blossomed and Maya felt a warm trickle of blood rolling down her neck.

“You can’t win, Jedi. I was made to kill. My body is a weapon.”

Her eyes darted about, hoping for help, looking for inspiration. It came in the form of the smashed flasks.

“So is my mind,” she said, then closed her eyes and reached for the Force. The pieces of apparatus rattled where they lay, then rose, then flew at Mandalore in a hail of shards.

“What the… ?”

The mercenary jerked back, raising his arm instinctively to protect his face. Maya got her knees up beneath him and kicked him away two-footed. The Mandalorian staggered back. She jumped to her feet and reached out a hand. Mandalore flailed, watching wide-eyed as her lightsaber flew back to her grasp and sprang to life. She peered at another set of smashed apparatus and using her mind hurled it at the rogue soldier. He backed away as the missiles bounced from his armour.

Maya noted his spooked look, remembered that Flint had called her Force powers scary, like magic. She said, “The spirits of your clone brothers are rising against you, Resurrector…”

She didn’t know if the words worked or not, but Mandalore glanced at the bomb he had placed. He clicked a disc from his belt and threw it down. The stun grenade filled the room with a bang and choking smoke. When Maya regained her senses, Mandalore was gone. She crossed to the bomb and saw a digital timer counting down, 57, 56, 55…

.​

 

Findswoman Thanks so much for looking in again. I found that duel satisfying as it made a change from always saber-vs-saber or Force-vs-Force, even if it borrowed heavily from Obi-wan vs Fett. Anyhow, you've stuck with this, and here is the ending... !

Chapter 15​

“TIO, I NEED YOU IN HERE NOW!” Maya shouted. The smoke from Mandalore’s stun grenade was clearing, aided by the last drizzle from the overhead sprinklers. She noticed a previously hidden emergency exit chute with dull realisation. He really did know every corner of this place, from the aiwha bay to Black Talon Point.

No time to dwell. The timer clicked down with each second; 49, 48, 47…

Maya turned to see R4-T0 rolling into the lab, closely followed by Flint. The elite soldier sported numerous new burns and dents in his armour, but was still in one piece. He removed his helmet and offered a cheerless grin at her surprise.

“Told you I’d cover your back.”

She nodded back. “We’ve got a problem. Tio can you… ?”

The astromech had already started work, reaching out manipulation claws toward the device, visual lens adjusting in analysis. 34, 33, 32…

Flint examined the wrecked lab. “Where’s Alpha-02?”

Maya said, “He bugged out.”

The ARC frowned at her. “You… beat him, one-on-one.”

“Not yet.” She watched Tio work as the droid examined wires. 27, 26, 24…

“Seems the assault force got trapped,” reported Flint. “Their fallback point was the battle-sub – including the defensive fire of some super-cannon. Both got wiped out. You did that, too?”

“With a lightsaber,” Maya nodded. Flint harrumphed. Tio hummed a tune to himself as he poked about. 12, 11, 10…

“Alright, that’s it,” said Flint. “We need to get outside before…”

“I’m not leaving Tio.”

“Commander Qwan…"

“He can do it!”

4, 3, 2… Flint grabbed Maya and hugged her, turning her away from the bomb and placing his body in between. Maya… melted into the embrace, wilting with exhaustion. For a second that seemed to last an eternity, they waited. Then Tio chirped happily.

They broke apart and turned. The droid rocked beside the bomb. Its timer had stopped on 0. Both Flint and Maya rushed to the little robot and congratulated him.

Maya looked Flint in the eyes. “Thanks. You didn’t need to do that.”

He replaced his helmet. “You’re not wearing armour. Just being practical, Ma’am.”

* * *​

“SO THAT WAS THE NIORDE PROJECT?” said Maya.

Senator Halle Burtoni bowed her head on a graceful neck. “A small but invasive chain of genetic code, like a virus, secretly implanted ten years ago. That was about the time that Alpha-02... left.”

Maya nodded understanding, her maroon dress once again dry. In the formal greeting chamber of the Prime Minister, Kaminoans clinked crystal glasses in muted celebration of the ‘victory’. The young Jedi noted that no clones had been invited. They were still tidying up the bodies of their brothers, treating the screaming wounded.

“So he came back and broke in to set the countdown in progress,” said Maya.

“So it seems,” said Halle. “The follow-up assault was intended to join with the affected clones and escape, then destroy the genetic control centre.”

“Covering his tracks and landing a crushing blow on the Republic.”

“Your actions have averted disaster, Maya. If they had succeeded, production of the Grand Army of the Republic could have been disrupted for years…”

“How could a rogue clone have devised and accessed such a code?”

“I do not know, Maya. Specialised expertise is required. We are checking our records. The Niorde virus was a reaction to standard order 65, but only affected one batch – three thousand units. However, they were spread across several regiments for maximum impact. It was quite ingenious.”

“What if there are any more implanted codes like this?”

“Do not worry, Maya. We have conducted an extensive check of our systems. You can absolutely trust the loyalty of the clone army.”

Can I? Maya wondered. Each time she pictured Flint’s face in her mind’s eye it mutated and became that of Mandalore, or the clone that had blasted her in the training arena, then back again.

“What about that other secret locked project?”

Prime Minister Lama Su appeared by Halle’s side. “That is perfectly legitimate,” he said. “A security code authorised by Chancellor Palpatine himself. It is nothing for you to concern yourself with.”

Maya excused herself and wandered out to an open balcony. The skies had calmed to a pale dawn. Tio rolled to her side and beeped a question.

“I don’t know, Tio,” she sighed. “I’m starting to see Master Chodo’s point of view on these soldiers. Their loyalty is not earned or reasoned, it’s programmed. I begin to wonder if there is some terrible dormant danger in these clones of Kamino…”

THE END​

.​

 

Findswoman Thank you so much for reading on to the conclusion. You alone have maintained my motivation!

To "bug out" is US military slang for retreating, withdrawing, disengaging, from a combat. I think they used it a lot in Topgun lol. It would not normally be part of Maya's vocabulary, but she learned it from Flint back at that conversation after the arena training incident. Who's influencing whom there, eh?

Anyway, yes Mandalore does come back in a later episode (as does a certain Quarren darksider, I might add).

I'm glad you picked up on the hints at Order 66, as a fine Gand hunter should. It's one of those nice "unbeknownst to the character but but beknownst to you the dear reader..." moments. Perhaps known by its more modern name as a "plot cookie" for the attentive fan lol.

Thanks once more. I'm trying to finish up a Star Trek story at the moment, but Maya may make another appearance here before xmas.

 

I hope I find the time to re-read this story from the beginning, because you write breathtaking battles scenes still and Maya develops nicely as a character AND a person!

Sorry for being extremely busy the past months... otherwise I would have found more time to appreciate your story...

 

Heya AzureAngel2 ! So nice to see you again. No apologies necessary - I knew you were very busy. It's good to have you back.

 

Thank you! For good fan fics I am always around somehow!

 

To all who read this (!?), many thanks once again for your time. I personally like this one better than Sewosta. I was quite proud of that key training scene in the arena, which both foreshadowed and brought together all the themes that repeat throughout the tale, culminating in the big Niorde Protocol surprise. On the other hand, I skirted around some pretty dark themes but didn't really give them enough attention. Wanted to keep it light for U-rated readers. Creating clones for what is essentially a slave army - to me - raises some serious ethical issues, and I was surprised that the films didn't make more of it - and even the Jedi seemed to take it on board without much thought.

K.

 

I am glad you made a fic where this delicate subject is mentioned.

 

Oh, hi again azureangel . Sorry, didn't see this reply until now. I thank you for your time in getting through to the end.

 

Whew!!! Such fast paced action and great teamwork and resourcefulness with Maya and Flint. He raised some interesting concerns about the flamboyance of lightsabers - ironic thing about implanted codes and the really secret one that isn't uncovered until it's too late.

 

Okay, now I binge-read this story too, and I absolutely loved the combination of action and mystery here! Maya came tantalisingly close to finding out about Order 66, and I wonder if and how this is going to play a role in future stories -- because, quite frankly, if I were Palps I'd already think that she knows too much.

I also loved how you integrated Legends characters in your narrative. I didn't miss the throwaway line that "the Dragon" would be interested in having a Jedi captive, and since the next story is called The Dragon of Dagobah, I expect that we'll hear more about that soon?

I was also happy to see in one of your replies that both Flint and a certain Quarren darksider will be back in future stories. As a side note, I enjoyed how Flint and Maya learned from each other here, and I thought they made a good team Out of curiosity, is Flint also an RPG character brought to fanfic, or did you create him for this story?

This has been a great read, and I might even get started on the next episode as early as tonight, because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!