Consequences

Chapter 31 - Discovery

Shaak Ti, Fives, the Kaminoan, and I are waiting on the landing platform as Anakin and Obi-Wan's ship finally arrives. I can hardly believe they finally got here.

"Greetings Master Kenobi and Skywalker," welcomes Shaak Ti.

"Hello, Master," I greet.

"I believe we have some things to catch up on before getting to investigating," Anakin says.

I nod. "According to the Kaminoans, the purpose of the chip is to ensure that the clones are loyal to the Republic and will be more likely to obey orders. But I believe that there must be more to the 'malfunction' than that because it seems perfectly clear that Tup had orders to kill the Jedi."

"That is impossible!" protests the Kaminoan.

"It seems unlikely that his chip could have malfunctioned simultaneously to any other event that would have made him do that," I object, "Besides, we already know it's not a virus."

"Perhaps Master Shaak Ti was right that the clone was brainwashed by the Separatists," the Kaminoan suggests.

Of course. I'm seriously beginning to think they all know exactly what is going on. She's clearly trying to cover for Sidious. Yes, she must know. "We'll have to investigate further to determine anything with certainty," I argue, "If this truly has nothing to do with the inhibitor chip, we will consider other possible options. We need to start somewhere." Now, perhaps, we'll finally get some answers.

***

"I might have found something," Anakin says finally from where he's working in a room on Kamino.

"What?" Obi-Wan and I demand.

"The chips contain a list of orders," Anakin informs us from the screen he's looking at, "One of them is to kill all trained Force-sensitives."

"What?" I squeak in horror. I knew it. We figured it out. Except the only thing I need to do is make sure this leads back to Sidious.

"I do not believe this has anything to do with what happened," insists the Kaminoan, "The orders in the chips can only be given by the Supreme Chancellor."

"And why is there an order for this, then?" I ask, spinning around to face her. That statement in and of itself might lead back to him.

"The Jedi are leading a war," she argues, "There is a possibility that some of them could become corrupted, so the order is there simply for security reasons. So far, it seems everything is fine, so there is no reason for you to be concerned." Suuuure. Just as I was beginning to suspect. The clones were clearly created by Sidious with this exact purpose in mind.

Obi-Wan and Anakin don't look convinced either. "We shall report this to the Council and see what they decide about this information," replies Obi-Wan. She nods reluctantly, clearly realizing that she is out of arguments. There's part of me that almost feels bad for her – because I know Sidious will be furious – but she did agree to do this. She knows what it's for. She should have been prepared for the plan to backfire like this.

"We'll be going back to the ship to contact them," declares Anakin, rising. With that, we walk out of the room, heading back for the ship.

"I knew it," I murmur as we walk inside, "Obi-Wan's future self told me, and the moment Tup turned his blaster on me, I knew there was something controlling the clones."

"You think this is how the Jedi were destroyed?" asks Anakin, a confused expression on his face. Of course. He still hasn't put two and two together.

I nod my confirmation.

Obi-Wan frowns. "But she said the only one who could give the order is –" From his stunned expression, I just know he figured it out. "The Chancellor... is he the Sith Lord?"