How the Clone Wars should have gone, given that Anakin was canonically a slave. (wtf Lucas?)
Rex: Yeah, we all have inhibitor chips. They make us less aggressive--
Anakin: You have slave chips.
Rex: No, inhibitor chips.
Anakin: Slave chips. They all need to be removed. Kix! Do you have a scanner?
Kix: Er, no. You need a level 5--
Anakin: Nevermind. I'll build one. They need to come out immediately.
::slave chip comes out of one trooper who volunteered, because ARCs be crazy:: (Fives. It was Fives. Because Fives.)
Anakin: Huh. Why doesn't this have any explosive?
Rex: I *told* you. They're inhibitor chips.
Anakin: Nuh uh. Slave chips. They gotta do something else.
::a little later, some slicing, orders discovered::
Anakin: Slave chips! All of them out!
Rex: Okay, but this is just one itty bitty bit of the GAR. There's 3 million of us.
Anakin: *Lots* more scanners.
Rex: ::facepalm::
::Scanners sent to every ship in the fleet and the Guard::
Fives: So who activates the chips?
Anakin: Depur.
Fives: ::thinking that this is a reasonable name rather than a generic term for a slave master:: Where do we find them? And can we kill them?
Cue Kamino being invaded, the Kaminoans interrogated (and Nala Se summarily executed), and relevant information discovered.
Rex: So it's the Chancellor.
Anakin: No, he's my good friend.
Rex: …
Anakin: I'm depukrata. (The slave word for a freed slave who enslaves others.)
Fives: ::no concept of natborn names:: Everyone! The general's Depukrata now!
Everyone: Hello, Depukrata!
Anakin: ::anakin.exe has stopped working::
Anakin: ::incoherent frothing rage:: Let's fuck some shit up!
The 501st: ::cheers, gets out the heavy ordinance::
this is your not so friendly reminder that obi wan dies not knowing about the inhibitor chips. he has no clue about their existence. none.
like what do you mean "my clone troops turned on me"?? what do you mean my most trusted and loyal friend of the last 3 years, who i spent hours with forging battle plans and talking strategy and going over reports and fighting alongside each other tried to shoot me down after i basically secured the end of the war?? what do you mean the people, the friends, who had our backs throughout the war tried to kill every last one of my family??
do you think the thought crossed his mind, that while most jedi were nice to the clones and treated them like actual people, they felt like the jedi were opressing and using them and actively wanted to kill them because of that?
obi wan lost everything after the order, and it wasnt just anakin and the jedi. it was all of the clones as well. they were more than just a general and his troops. and he will never know they didnt betray him. ):
I know I've posted about this before, so all I'll say now is...
If you prefer the non-chip version of the story, that's completely fine! That version brings up interesting points of discussion and puts the clones and Order 66 in its own unique light!
But if you're watching Rex's moment of absolute terror when he's holding Ahsoka at blaster-point...
... watching Rex cry when he realizes his brothers would rather die than let Ahsoka or Rex leave the ship alive...
... watching Rex warn others about the effects of the chips, putting the responsibility squarely on them to get the chips out...
... watching Commander Cody and other clones start to question orders and take full responsibility for their actions (because the thing is, the clones DID know exactly what they were doing the entire time, and they thought they were in full control of their own actions even though they weren't)...
... and somehow your takeaway is that Rex or any of the other clones use the chips as a reason to absolve themselves of any responsibility, I just don't think we're watching the same shows.
Ok, so i’ve had this idea in my head of the clones with a Jedi S/O during Order 66. I don’t mean they act on Order 66, I mean if everything sorta played out similar in canon (Chip doesn’t work)
Idk, I like me some protective boys.
CW: minimally proofread, jedi!S/O, Reader, Gender neutral pronouns, Order 66, violence, death, swearing, Hunter trying his best, Wrecker being a sweetie, Echo is ready to fight, Tech is the only one who is level headed, and Crosshair being somewhat emotional
You were following Caleb when the order came through. Your steps stumbled and your knees hit the cold ground. All around you, the Force was being ripped apart. Hands were on your shoulders.
your lover. You barely realized through the haze.
With absolute horror, you watched helplessly as clones gunned down Depa Billaba. “Run Caleb!” You heard her scream through the overwhelming grief and death you felt. The padawan turned, lightsaber ready.
“Get away from us!” he barked, calling your name, “Get up! Please!”
He was panicked, confused. So were you.
You managed to look up, seeing the clone troopers across the field standing over Master Billaba’s smoking corpse. They were prepping to kill you and the padawan next.
Without another word you bolted, grabbing Caleb’s hand and sprinting to the trees. You didn’t look back. You had to make sure the kid was safe.
Hunter
“Wait!” He’ll give chase before stopping at the tree line. He had never seen you look so devastated and afraid.
He’s going to follow you. Of course he is. He’s just as confused as everyone else.
Until Tech finally finds out what's going on
“The Jedi have been ordered to be executed.” “Which one?” “All of them.”
“What!? Why!?” Hunter is panicked at this point. The troopers behind him have orders to kill. They won’t show you mercy.
“Apparently they’ve committed treason.”
By the time he finds you, Caleb had already jumped across the ravine and was waiting for you. You turned, tears in your eyes.
“I can feel it…everyone is being killed.”
“We’re going to figure this out,” He’s going to try and calm you down, “I promise, we’re going to figure this out.” His arms are around you.
It wasn’t safe for you. Not anywhere near him and the others. He knows this. You know this.
The two of you come up with a hurried plan.
“Go to these coordinates. Once we know what's going on, I’ll come find you.” He’ll kiss you passionately, “Get the kid and hide.”
Hunter won’t go with you. He’s the squad leader. He can’t just go missing.
Despite the fear that you’ll be found out, he trusts you and your skills to stay alive.
Once you jump across, he’ll watch, make sure no one follows or tries to shoot at you.
Once he’s questioned on your whereabouts, he’s going to lie, “I managed to stab the kid and shoot the Jedi. both of them fell into the water.”
I will say, his nerves are shot until he gets to you again.
But in the meanwhile? He’s antsy. Anxious and a tad distracted.
Also a hairs trigger from snapping.
Crosshair badgers him at Kamino and Hunter barely holds back a punch.
Hunter loves you, so damn dearly. And right now he can’t protect you because he needs to figure out what the fuck is going on.
But, after finding the truth and getting Omega, he makes a damn beeline for the coordinates he gave you.
Plus side? Caleb and Omega become friends.
Echo
What the FUCK just happend!?
He sprints into the trees to keep up, ignoring how Hunter is calling his name.
“Echo, get back here!”
“No.” He will cut off his comms.
He’s an ARC trooper, he can track you to a degree. He’s not like Hunter, but he gets to the general area where you are.
He manages to get to a clearing where you and Caleb are hiding in the trees.
“Cyare!” Echo is clearly confused, worried and he swears he feels the same amount of death that’s overwhelmed you.
Once you reveal yourself, his helmet is off and his arms are around you so tightly.
“I don’t know what's going on, but I’ll keep you and Commander Dume safe.”
Hunter and Crosshair catch up to you, and once Crosshair aims his blaster at you and Caleb, Echo is ready to brawl.
He stands protectively in front of you, gun aimed at the sniper, “If your skinny ass doesn’t put the fucking gun away I swear to-!”
“Both of you stand down!” Hunter will have to get between them, because Echo is 100% willing to shoot Crosshair if it means you stay safe.
He’s not aware Crosshair doesn't exactly have a choice at the moment.
Really no one is aware.
But he’s lost domino squad, he’s lost Fives, he's lost legion, right now his former general is probably being killed…He’s lost so much already.
He refuses to lose you too.
So Echo pulls the trigger first, settling on stunning him and making a dash towards the ravine. Hunter has to keep up.
Once Caleb is across, he’ll get meetup coordinates from Hunter.
Echo goes with you. He doesn’t return to Kamino. The moment he's across the ravine with you and Caleb he’s a deserter.
He doesn’t care. He just doesn’t want to lose you.
He’s a strong, determined guard, and one who didn’t let you or Caleb get hurt.
Wrecker
He casts a glance at Hunter before running off after you.
He has no idea what Order 66 is. Nor does he care.
The guy saw you so…out of it. So scared and confused.
His protective instincts have geared up to 11.
Hunter goes with him, while Crosshair is the one who remains behind to stall.
Once Tech informs everyone that the Jedi have been named traitors and should be executed on sight, Wrecker gets serious. Very serious.
He becomes so unlike himself, even Crosshair is surprised.
Honestly? I see Wrecker as someone willing to gun down any ‘reg’ if they’re threatening his squad or s/o.
Even this early into the Empire.
When he sees you, he’s immediately grabbing you into his arms which causes Caleb to attack.
Admittedly he’s gonna tackle Caleb, only adding to the poor kids terror.
“Wrecker, you're scaring him!”
But after a strong bear hug and an “Easy kid! I’m tryna help you!” The padawan calms down enough to listen.
He puts Caleb down, rips off his helmet and gives you one hell of a kiss.
He’s worried. He’s scared. And he wants to protect you.
Hunter will have to talk him down from running off with you.
The sergeant has to keep his squad together. It sucks but they need to figure out what the heck is happening at the moment.
Wrecker desperately wants to go with you but he can’t abandon his squad.
However, he feels much better once Hunter gives some safe coordinates to lay low and hide.
He’ll get you to the ravine and stand guard until you and Caleb are across and out of sight.
You bet your ass when he meets up with you again he’s not letting you go.
Tech
He isn’t as emotional as the others at the moment. He’s actually focused on gathering as much information in the least amount of time.
He waits, listening to the comm chatter. What is going on? why?
“Execute Order 66.”
After a second, he shares a look with Hunter.
“Tech, go after-”
No more words need to be said. Tech is gone and going after you.
He’s smart. He knows your patterns. He knows where you’d most likely hide. So he focuses on that.
Once he’s confident he’s in a broad area where you and Caleb are, he’s going to call out to you, “Cyare? There’s something called Order 66 on the comms.”
Tech gives you information first. He won’t make you reveal yourself if you don’t feel safe enough.
When Echo announces that the Jedi have been charged with treason, he’ll relay that to you.
“The comms say the Jedi committed treason against the Republic,” He’s going to keep looking around for you, “I know you. You’d never do such a thing. I’m here, Cyare. I can help you.”
Once you reveal yourself, Caleb behind you, he feels the biggest amount of relief.
He pulls off his helmet, giving you a small smile.
“Tech…The Jedi…” your voice cracks, “They’re being killed…I can feel it.”
“I know, Cyare…I’m sorry.” He tries his best to comfort you, but he knows he can never understand.
The amount of Jedi he’s worked with can be counted on one hand.
But he knows this is your family. Your friends. Your very life.
Once Hunter meets up with you guys, a plan can be put in place.
He gives you coordinates for a location to meet-up and hide. You’ll lay low with Caleb.
In the meantime, Tech will return to Kamino, figure out what's happening, and from there a better, more long term plan can be made.
Before you leave though, he’s going to give you the longest, most passionate kiss he's ever given you.
He’s well aware that there's a chance you can be found and killed.
Tech is the only one who has accepted that you may not make it out of this.
But he’s going to keep his mind occupied, distract himself until he’s by your side again.
Crosshair
As soon as the order goes out, Crosshair is under the influence of the inhibitor chip.
He just doesn’t know. No one does at this point.
He watches you run away with Caleb and the drive to hunt you down is hard to ignore.
He needs to find you to kill you, to protect you.
But, the sudden headache he has is damn near blinding.
Crosshair follows Hunter, keeping his comms on.
He freezes when Tech finds out the Jedi have been marked for execution.
The Inhibitor Chip in his skull is contending with his feelings for you.
He needs to execute save you.
When he spots you he pulls his rifle and aims but barely manages to stop himself.
He can’t hurt you. He needs to kill loves you.
Crosshair draws some sort of conclusion that Kaminoans had conditioned all clones to follow specific orders.
He doesn’t know of the chip. He just assumes it comes from the troopers' conditioning.
When his arms are around your body, for a brief moment he thinks of snapping your neck.
Good soldiers follow orders.
He hates orders.
This is the point where Crosshair knows something is seriously wrong with him.
But he’s not going to say anything yet. He can still fight if need be.
“You need to run…hide…get away from here.” it's a rare moment that he’s scared.
The sniper is desperate to shoot protect you.
The headache is persistent, and it’s somewhat distracting.
But he’ll power through.
Crosshair will wait for Hunter to come up with…something.
His eyes are on the area around you, gun set to kill in case any reg tries anything.
The plan? Clone Force 99 returns to Kamino while you and Caleb go into hiding.
You have coordinates. He can find you later.
But…well Crosshair doesn’t like that. At all.
Hear me out. Like Echo, Crosshair goes with you. He knows somethings up with him, but he trusts himself more than he trusts anyone else.
“Tell Kamino they killed me.” He instructs Hunter, “That I died trying to stop the Jedi and you managed to get justice.”
He crosses the ravine with you, only looking back to nod back to Hunter.
By the time Crosshair, you and Caleb safely get off the planet, his headache is a small annoyance that goes away with time.
Crosshair sticks with you until he reunites with his squad and notices Omega
