Between the Shadows

Chapter 1 - On The Run

Anakin knew from the start when things started going downhill on Ringo Vinda that everything was going to get much worse. It was a deep-running knowing sensation, and he could feel the dark shadow of the future in the Force steadily closing in. Tup mysteriously turning on the Jedi was only the beginning of something worse.

He just thinks he underestimated how much worse. He never imagined Fives would be dragged into the mess. Certainly never to this extent.

"I can't believe Fives would try to assassinate the Chancellor," Anakin says, studying the frozen hologram of Fives on the holotable in the center of the room. His expression is twisted with fury, as he tries to lunge for Palpatine.

It doesn't make sense.

Fives is his best friend. The only one of his boys who he's closer with is Rex, especially now with Ahsoka gone. Fives' passion and determination and goofiness had helped distract him from the constant ache of Ahsoka's loss.

Fives would never betray the Republic like this, much less attack the Chancellor. Anakin knows him well enough to know that.

"The Kaminoans feel a virus corrupted the clone's inhibitor chip, which has led to this behavior," Shaak Ti declares.

It sounds ludicrous, but the brain science part of it isn't something Anakin really understands anything about, and something's obviously wrong with Fives. He would never do this of his own.

"ARC Trooper Fives feels he is the victim of a plot, Separatist or otherwise," she goes on.

That's what Anakin first thought when Tup had shot the Jedi, but then with this whole thing about "inhibitor chips" that he doesn't really understand coming up, it doesn't seem like that could be entirely coincidental. Unless the Separatists found a way, using these chips, to turn the clones against them.

"All security and clone forces on Coruscant have been ordered to join the manhunt," Windu announces, "The Chancellor has been moved to his Senate quarters and the perimeter has been secured. However, Jedi involvement has been requested."

"That is unusual, isn't it?" Anakin objects.

Why would Palpatine not want one of the Jedi there, in a situation as dangerous as this? Usually whenever there's a threat to his security, he always personally asks Anakin to be involved.

Maybe he's not doing it this time because he knows how personally involved Anakin is in what's going on with Fives. Which... he's genuinely a little grateful for because if Fives came after Palpatine again, he could never hurt him. Never.

That doesn't really explain why he's not getting any other Jedi involved though, but it's not like that's their primary concern.

"Discover the truth, we must," Yoda murmurs.

"If there is a plot involving the clones, we must get to the bottom of it," Windu states firmly, "We will investigate quietly, undercover. We must make sure this clone is not killed."

Anakin's gut flips at the sheer casualness of the mention. They're talking about Fives' life here. His life is on the line and Anakin's admittedly terrified to know what's going to happen to him. He knows he can lose any of his boys anytime and it always hurts, but Fives is one of those he's always been closest with. He doesn't want to think about anything happening to him.

But they'll have to get these legal charges cleared up fast, or he's going to be executed for treason when he is found. So they need to know what it was that made him react like that. Somehow.