Chapter 5:Order 66

Kaminonians were that kind of non-human race that humans usually found amazing. Their tall ,thin bodies, their celestial blue skin, their big eyes and the softness of their voices, everything in them was appealing.

She observed as the tall alien entered the room, and she patiently waited he saw her. It didn't take too much. He had merely make a few steps and the light were still off, but despite the lack of luminosity, she could sense how he stopped, and his whole body tensed. She could felt in the force his nervosity, and she almost smiled. Good.

Air became heavy. She knew he could see her much better she saw him. Evolution had doted kaminonians with those big eyes that were able to see even in the deepest and darkest waters. She knew he should by the moment have noticed her Jedi-wearings.

After what seemed an eternity , Lama Su, prime minister of Kamino, walked towards her and just sat in front of her. They were still in the darkness but that didn't seemed to bother him. She could sense he was trying to calm himself, and to show a cool façade.

Finally, the Kaminonian move his left hand and the light turned on, revealing the luxurious room they were in.

"I must admit this is unexpected" his voice was as soft as she remembered. "It is not everyday I find a young Jedi waiting in the dark of my apartments"

She rose an eyebrow, and she calmly crossed her legs.

"Well, I hope you are not too tired after the dinner you had with your senator because I was hoping we could have a little talk, Prime minister"

If Lama Su could have frowned he would be doing it, but he had no eyebrows. He just moved a bit, uncomfortable, but even that movement seemed elegant.

"May I ask you how have you entered these flat? I thought the security of this building was beyond any kind of intruders."

"It seems it is not good enough. A chance i didn't came here to kill you, don't you think?"

She smiled, sensing his fear. He must have noticed her behaviour wasn't very Jedi-like.

She remembered Bail' s words.

"The prime minister is under the protection of the republic. He's has been threatened so many times by the separatist. He keeps the secret of the clone army, after all "Bail then stopped, he had noticed the way she had tensed after those words "Remember me why you would to talk with him?"

She didn't answer. Her sight was lost over the coruscanti skyline, her cup of tea still on her hand.

"O...Obi-Wan?" He asked, worried by her silence. It was still weird to call her like that. She must have sensed his trouble, because she turned to him.

"You can call me Leia if it is easier to you, It's my name now."

"I don't want to call you by a name you don't feel like yours"

"Maybe you're right, but it is the name i gave and I should be get used to it."

Bail looked at her, and even if not force-sensitive, he didn't miss the nostalgia that laid in the Jedi eyes.

"Who is she?"

She looked surprise.

"Excuse-me?"

"Who is Leia? It is someone you used to know, isn't she?" She had looked so sad when she had say he could call her Leia. She looked always sad.

"It doesn't matter now"

Bail didn't blink. His gaze became intense.

"Do you trust me, Leia?" He asked.

She gulped. She was not expecting that question.

"If didn't trust you i wouldn't have asked for your help" her statement was sure. Diplomatic. Worthy of the Negotiator. But the true was even if she trusted him, she could not tell him all the true.

"But you still don't tell me what all this is about!" he protested. He was outraged, she could sense it.

She almost smiled. That was SO him.

"She came net to him and sat in front of him. She put her cup on the table, and then she took his hands on her. They were warm, and a feel of warmness ran through both their bodies. Bail slightly blushed and he smile. The senator could swore it was the first true smile she had seen n her since their first meeting.

"Bail, you are my friend, both in my dimension and in this one. Obi-Wan trust you with his life, and so I do. You have always been there when I needed you and I know, that all this situation is complicated and utterly difficult to understand. And I know you worry about the shake of the Republic. This isn't easy for me neither, but please, you have to trust me as I trust you. I can't tell you anything, at least not for now"

Bail looked away, but he didn't retired his hands. He knew Obi-Wan for many years now and they were close friends, but as a Jedi, he never had shown any kind of physical affection as his other self was doing now. Maybe as a woman she tended more to show it.

Or maybe was the situation so desperate she needed to show it?The thought scared him, because Obi-Wan was one of the most courageous Jedi he had ever known. But when he looked again at her eyes, he realized needed his support.

"I...I trust you" he finally said, and then he smiled at her. "Damn you and your negotiation skills" he joked.

Leia laughed. "You appreciated them when we were on danger and it save us on..."

"I know, but they are actually a dangerous weapon"

"I do my best"

"I don't doubt it". They separated their hands and Bail served more tea.

"So, what about Lama Su?" He asked, returning to seriousness.

"Well, I suppose I will have to pay him a visit soon"

"I don't appreciate that kind of humour, milady"

"I wish you no harm, prime minister, at least while you answer my questions"

"Are you threatening me?" He asked, and for the firs time his voice didn't sounded balanced.

"Yes, I am. I have some questions and you'd better answer it"

Lama Su blinked, and she sensed the fear running at the next level.

"You are no Jedi" he stated. So sure about it. She didn't corrected him. It was better that way.

"Are you sent by separatist?"

She grinded.

"That's not of your busyness. So now, primer minister, what can you tell me about order 66?"

All the council members were looking at him, and for the first time since he had become a master, Obi-Wan felt terribly uncomfortable under their gaze. He was on his seat, but it was like when he had t report from some mission and he had stood in the middle of the chamber, surrounded by the most powerful members f the Jedi orders. But back then he had had Qui-gon or Anakin by his side. At that moment he was alone. Somewhere in his mind a voice reminded him he was now a member of that same council so it had no sense to feel nervous, but he just couldn't help. He gluped, waiting for them to say something. Anything.

"Well, that is ...unexpected" finally a voice broke the silence. Master Ki –Adi-Mundi seemed thoughtful.

"Indeed. We imagined Palpatine would like to gain more power but this? A private representative? " Master Windu sound outraged.

"Such an arrogance from the chancellor." Spoke the holographic form of master Ayla Secura.

"More than arrogance this is. Careful with it to be, we must" .

Obi-Wan frowned. Careful? Why was Master Yoda talking as if...Then it hit him. He blinked in disbelief and his throat dried.

"What...Masters, you are not considering this request, are you?"

His gaze was fixed on Yoda, but it was Mace who answered.

"Of course we do, Obi-Wan. I must admit I am surprised he demanded this from you and not Anakin, since as you have told us many times, they have such a close relationship. But it doesn't change anything. If as we fear it, the chancellor is under the Sith influence, to deny this request could have unknown consequences"

"And what about the consequences of let him know about the Jedi maters? Can't this have consequences too?"He looked around, but then saw his colleagues were looking at Mace, and he could read the acceptance in their eyes. When had they decided about accept that kind of request from the chancellor? It must have been before Anakin and him returned of the outrim.

"We know it is dangerous, that is why we need someone to spy on the chancellor."

A cold child ran through his back. What?

"Dark time those are. To act quick we must. Many options, we do not have"

Obi-Wan nodded. He knew they were right. The war had been so far long. They were losing power over the conflict and time was running. But it just felt so wrong to let Palpatine enter into the council and by him!

"So do you want me to spy on him while I make my reports?"he doubted Palpatine would be fooled that easily.

"Not exactly. If the chancellor, as we fear, is under the Sith Lord influence, and you try to spy on him, it would suspect about you. It is better we ask him another Jedi while the Sith has his views on you." Explained Mace , his voice cool-tempered.

Obi-Wan nodded. That was a good plan. It was only a tiny detail.

"Who?"

"Who told you about that?"if a few moments ago his voice was prideful but yet tried to mask his fear, now Lama Su wearied no mask anymore. He was stupefied and scared.

"It doesn't matter. Tell me now"

Lama Su gulped, and after a moment he spoke looking at that woman like he would have looked at his worst nightmare.

"Order...order 66 is a special command the clones of the republic are programmed to follow. "

"Please, feel free to elaborate" she answered.

Lama Su didn't look comfortable, but he continued his speech.

"Each clone has been his genetics medicated to be more receptive to orders. But they obedience are not only in their DNA. They have a complete military training and they have a chip implanted in their brains, which is implanted little after their birth. The chips had been one of our most recent improvements in technology in the last few years. They have a full memory. In this case, they are designed to implement some kind of orders the clones must follow, to be sure they do it blindly."

"Do you fear they wouldn't without those chips?"

"We don't fear anything, milady. We merely follow the wishes of our employer."

"So, would they follow those specifics orders without the chips?"

"I do know, milady. Clones are human beings, and as all those of your kind, the moment they have a self conscience, they tend to do whatever they want to. Even if conditioned by their DNA I guess they would act differently if the orders they are given is morally doubtful."

"And of course, so is order 66 I suppose"

Lama Su joined his hands as he observed her more cautiously. "That depends. I don't judge our employers, milady. But I can imagine he must to have his reasons. Maybe you should tell me why a Jedi would have asked that kind of orders to be programed on the chip"

She crossed her arms.

"And that order is..." She asked. Her hart was beating very fast. She already knew it, but to learn it was an order implanted in each clone of the galaxy scared her to the bones. How was she supposed to stop the Jedi Purge like that?

"I can't told you, milady. You know already too much, and if the chancellor ever discovers I gave you the information I...

Before he could continue she had left the seat. She was very next to him, and her lightsabre was pointed to his chest.

"I said I wish you harm, prime minister, and it is true. Please don't make me change my mind."

Lama Su nodded, and she came back to her seat.

"Ok, milady, but let me warn you, you're playing with fire"

Fire.

A single word and she was back to Mustafar.

She looked at him.

"I am used to"

Obi-Wan was angry, and he barely could remember the last time he had been like that. He was a Jedi, and Jedi don't let emotion to take control, but at the moment the only think I could think of was he had been manipulated. Manipulated by the council he trusted blindly and manipulated by Palpatine.

They wanted Anakin to spy on the chancellor? Meanwhile he was his representative?

Worst idea ever.

He had tried to explain it. The fact Anakin was a loyal person beyond any reason, and that he would not take it very well. He knew he will feel betrayed.

And what had he answered when the council had asked for his approbation?

"I don't think it is a good idea but i will do as the council wishes"

Force, what a stupid answer. He could feel he was going to regret his decision.

Qui-Gon would have opposed the council-a voice inside him whispered. But he was not Qui-Gon.

Sometimes he missed him so badly.

"Order 66: Can be only given by the chancellor. Kill all the Jedi"

She gulped.

"And when you where told to put this order in the chip you just obeyed?"

He looked at her, blinking.

"As I said before, I don't judge my employers. If I did I would not have made half the clones I have made in my life. Furthermore, this was an army for the republic, not for the Jedi order."

She didn't respond.

"Is there any way to deactivate that order?"

"Deactivate? Of course not, that is impossible. Once they are finished, our clones are for the person they were created, the republic in this case. We don't have any control over them anymore."

Kriff.

"So the only way to avoid the massacre is that the chancellor never gives that order, right?"

She had to kill Palpatine.

And the sooner the better.

"Well, yes, but you must be carful with the other commands..."

"Other...commands?"

Lama Su looked at her, and for the fist time that night, he smiled. A gentle smile.

"Of course. Did you really think that order 66 was the only command programed in that chip?"