After Poggle was captured, the Geonosian queen's lair was destroyed, and the droid factory was demolished, the Jedi placed Poggle onto a ship to await trial on Coruscant, and Ahsoka and her best friend Barris Offee arrived at the scene in another ship.

Master Mundi exited the ship Poggle was loaded onto.

"I'm afraid we have another complication," said Ki-Adi.

"Don't we always?" Anakin remarked.

"I've just received a distress signal from our forces on Dantooine. Master Windu's defenses held, but at a great cost to his men."

"They need medical supplies immediately." Ki-Adi said. "We can obtain these supplies at the medical station near Ord Cestus."

"We're delivering Poggle to Coruscant," said Anakin. "And Cestus is not exactly on the way."

"The Republic must begin debriefing Poggle right away, if we're going to get useful intelligence from him." said Luminara.

"Master, I suggest we let our Padawans handle the supply mission." Anakin said, placing a hand on each Padawan's shoulder. "And, Carousella can go with them."

"Whatever needs to be done, Master." Ahsoka said. "I'm happy to help."

"So am I," said Barriss.

"I'm ready to guard them if they need me too," Carousella saluted.

"Very well," said Obi-Wan. "Take a medical frigate. And after we've delivered Poggle to Coruscant, we'll rendezvous with you for the voyage to Dantooine."

So, the group got ready to take their designated trips. But, one ship's crew didn't know that they had a little stowaway on board, and it wasn't Gabby this time.

The clones and the girls got on board the medical frigate to go retrieve the supplies.

Barriss notified Master Kit Fisto that they were on their way.

"I look forward to your arrival," said Kit Fisto.

Later, the girls were all fast asleep. Except Carousella, who lay in between Ahsoka and Bariss's beds, remaining alert in case anything happened... until she lay her head down and drifted off to sleep.

But, Ahsoka couldn't sleep. She looked at Bariss, who was also awake.

"What? What is it?" Bariss asked.

"It's too quiet," said Ahsoka. "It's a big change from all the fighting the last few days."

"You should enjoy this peace while it lasts," said Barriss. But that was when Carousella started snoring, which sounded like a lot of snorting and neighing. "Well, now there's noise to fill the silence."

"Not exactly what I had in mind," said Ahsoka. She covered her ears as Carousella continued snoring a little louder. "Let's go eat."

So, the two Padawans left the room to escape Carousella's snoring.

Barriss and Ahsoka went to the eating area to have something to eat, but they didn't know something else was going on, which woke Carousella right up.

Ahsoka and Barriss, meanwhile, sat in the mess hall, enjoying a much-deserved meal.

"I was just thinking about what you said earlier," said Ahsoka. "about enjoying the peace while it lasts. As a Jedi, I'm not sure I know how to do that, even with the rules changing."

"Master Windu has said we are keepers of the peace, not warriors." Bariss said. "However, once the war is over, it will be our job to maintain the peace."

"Yes, but will we do so as keepers of the peace or warriors? And what's the difference."

"I don't have all the answers, Ahsoka. Like you, I'm a learner. What does your master tell you?"

"Anakin? Oh, um, you might find some of his thoughts on the future, uh, a bit radical."

"Really? Why?" Barriss asked.

"Let's just say my Master will always do what needs to be done, whether it's in the field or taking care of his daughter." Ahsoka said. "I'm not even sure how peacetime would agree with him."

"Would?" Barriss asked.

"You haven't seen how much trouble Gabby can create with and without her powers." Ahsoka chuckled. "You should've seen when she accidentally grew a tree under Anakin and he got stuck hanging from it. Or when she made it rain inside the Temple."

"Wait a minute. So all those months ago, when there were plants growing everywhere and random storms popped from out of nowhere, and that annoying Shark Song blasted all night, that was her?" Barriss said.

"Yup. You don't wanna get on her bad side." Ahsoka said. "Trust me when I say do not be fooled by her cuteness. But, she's a great little girl. She's like a little sister to me."

Meanwhile, Carousella was exploring the ship, sniffing around for anything odd. She got this weird feeling that something was off, and her ears kept twitching after they shot up, sensing danger. And that was when she heard blasters firing.

Carousella looked around until she saw some clones having murdered the pilots. She immediately took flight so they wouldn't hear her, and started to look for Bariss and Ahsoka. And she found them just in time as two more troopers, named Ox and Edge, had gone in and attempted to blast them.

The two Padawans used their lightsabers and the Force to defend themselves, and Carousella arrived just as the clones were knocked out, then she turned around and stood defensively as another pair of clones entered. Ahsoka and Bariss pointed their lightsabers at them.

"What are you doing?" One clone, named Trap, asked.

"Two clones just attacked us," said Ahsoka. "What is going on?"

"Trap, do you know what happened to those troopers?" Barriss asked.

"Couldn't tell you, Commander." Trap answered. "I'm just as confused as..."

"You're in charge of those men. Did you order them to kill us?"

Carousella made her horn stop glowing and said, "I don't think he did. I saw some other clones kill the pilots. If they wanted to attack just us, why would they take out each other?"

"What's happening? Why would they do this?" Ahsoka asked.

"We don't know," said the other clone. "We heard shots."

"So did I." Carousella said.

"Why should we believe you?" Bariss asked, the horse's testimony not being enough evidence, so Trap and the other clone put their guns down slowly and carefully stood back up.

The Padawans and musicorn deactivated their weapons.

"These men wouldn't just attack us without reason." said Barriss.

"My master had a clone betray them once," said Ahsoka. "a traitor who was paid off by Ventress."

"It can't be that simple. At least, it didn't feel like that."

"I've got an odd feeling we have a stowaway, and it isn't Gabby this time." Carousella said.

The Padawans and Trap went to go check the bridge while the other clone, named Havoc, kept watch of the unconscious clones.

Meanwhile, Anakin and the others grew concerned when neither the Padawans nor Carousella contacted them after the ship did not make it to its destination on time.

"I don't like this," said Anakin. "Something's up."

"Anakin, have faith in your Padawan." Obi-Wan said.

"She or Carousella would've checked in."

"Like you always do?"

"Good point."

"Sometimes I don't think you realize how alike you two have become. It's no wonder your daughter sees her as a sister."

Master Mundi cleared his throat and said, "We need to continue our interrogation of Poggle."

"Yes, agreed." Obi-Wan said. "He's being most uncooperative. Perhaps it would've been better to have Carousella retrieve Gabby to assist in such matters."

"And have them play that annoying song again?"

"It worked against Cad Bane, didn't it?" said Obi-Wan before leaving with the other masters.

"Keep your ears open in case Ahsoka or Carousella calls," Anakin ordered Rex.

"Got it," said Rex.

And the Jedi left.

Meanwhile, the medical frigate was being taken over by clones who seemed to be under some kind of curse.

The doors to the bridge were ray-shielded, and when Bariss tried to override the controls, Trap attacked. And that was when they saw one of the worms from before squirming out from his mouth. But just as Bariss was about to use her lightsaber, Carousella stopped her, and she tackled Trap, grabbed the worm with her teeth, yanked it out of Trap's system, and spat it onto the floor, where she stomped it with her hooves until it was dead.

Trap was left coughing and heaving for breath once the worm was removed. Ahsoka immediately helped him sit up.

"Trap, are you okay?" Carousella asked.

"I'm fine." Trap breathed. "Thank you."

"Ugh, what was that thing?" Ahsoka said, disgusted by the dead worm.

"A parasite I encountered with the Masters on Geonosis." Carousella said. "It takes control of one's mind, even the bodies of the dead as well as the living. That must be why the clones went all psycho before."

"Mind control," said Ahsoka. "Well, that explains a lot. Trap is my friend. He would never try to kill us."

Carousella helped Trap up to his feet and used a spell she recalled from her guard training to give him strength.

"How did these things get on board in the first place?" Ahsoka asked, picking up the worm's corpse.

"One must've taken over a clone's mind on Geonosis and then brought more of them unnoticed." Carousella hypothesized.

"We'll have to quarantine the ship." Ahsoka said.

"We should also contact Master Fisto and let him know about the situation." Barriss said.

"Carousella, sniff this worm and see if you can track more of them," said Ahsoka, having Bariss hold the corpse to her.

Carousella carefully took a few whiffs of the worm to get familiar with its scent, and they went to confront the potential infestation. Carousella had Trap ride her back, and they followed Ahsoka and Bariss as they went to another room. There, they found more infected clones bringing out a bunch of eggs that hatched with more worms to infect more clones.

"We'll need proper protection before we engage them." said Carousella.

It was made clear that the worms entered through the nose, so Carousella reached into her pack and pulled out some rags and rubber bands, which she put together with her magic to make breathable face masks.

"Quick! Put these on." Carousella ordered, placing one over her muzzle. "The parasites won't be able to infect us if they don't have a clear entrance."

And so, everyone put on a mask and jumped into battle. The clones used their blasters, and the Padawans used their lightsabers. Carousella used her horn to blast the clones with magic, and tackled some, trying to use her magic to find the worms and pull them out like she did with Trap. One worm did crawl on Carousella, and just like she hypothesized, the masks protected her and her friends from being infected, but it didn't stop more worms from hatching.

While Carousella and Trap continued to fight, Ahsoka and Bariss made their way to the air vents. The two Padawans quickly and quietly crawled through the vents. They needed a plan to stop the ship from reaching the medical station.

"I'll go to the reactor room and disable the thrusters." said Barriss, though she was slightly muffled with her mask on. "You head for the aft comm-center and send a warning to Master Fisto. We have to stop the ship from reaching the medical station."

"I don't know, Barriss." said Ahsoka as they continued to crawl. "I think we should stay together."

"As do I. Unfortunately, that's not a luxury we have right now. One of us must succeed, Ahsoka. If you need to, you'll do what must be done. I know it."

"Yes, of course. Then I'll see you soon."

Much to their reluctance, they split up to get a warning to Master Fisto and disable the ship's thrusters.

"As long as these things are on board," Ahsoka told Kit Fisto. "we dare not dock with the medical station."

"You must bring the ship in," said Kit. "The only way we can stop these parasites is to further analyze them."

"You don't understand how terrible these things are. What if they get loose? Are there even enough face masks to protect everyone?"

"We will take precautions." Kit promised.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Master Fisto, but I will follow your instructions."

Meanwhile, Barriss climbed out from a vent and began heading toward the reactor room, only to be electrocuted in a doorway and drop her lightsaber.

"If there's one thing we clones know," said one clone, picking up Barriss' lightsaber. "It's how to stop a Jedi."

More clones surrounded Barriss, and one came with a newly hatched worm for her. And they went for her mask, pulling it off her face to let the work infect her.

Ahsoka contacted Cargo ship TB-73, managing to get ahold of Captain Rex.

"Rex, this is Ahsoka. Boy am I glad to hear your voice," said the Togruta.

"Likewise, sir." said Rex. "I've got someone here who want to speak with you."

Anakin then appeared on the screen.

"Ahsoka, what's going on? Are you okay?" Anakin asked. "What's with the mask?"

"Well, we're not exactly okay." Ahsoka said. "Only as long as we keep these masks Carousella gave us on."

Ahsoka explained to Anakin what was happening with the worms, but she didn't know what was going on with Barriss, nor did she have a clue that her friend was infected and coming her way.

"Make sure you have a wrist comm." Anakin told Ahsoka. "Keep it on. I'm going to interrogate Poggle. He might have some answers. Find Barriss and wait for my signal."

Ahsoka got a wrist comm and made sure it worked. Then her master ended the call.

That was when Barriss arrived.

"Barriss, you're back." said Ahsoka. "Were you successful?"

Barriss didn't answer. She just stared at Ahsoka like she was her prey.

"Barriss... what's wrong?"

Barriss lifted her hand and shattered the glass that stood between them. Luckily, Ahsoka ducked in time to avoid getting serious cuts.

"I'm your friend!" Ahsoka exclaimed. "Barriss, snap out of it."

But Barriss ignited her lightsaber and started to attack Ahsoka, who took out her own weapon to defend herself. Ahsoka begged Barriss to fight the creatures, but then ran out into the halls. She started shouting for Carousella. She remembered the trigger word Gabby taught her and shouted "Magic Time" as loudly as she could, as many times as she could.

Meanwhile, Anakin approached the cell where Poggle was being held, which was guarded by two clones.

"Leave us," Anakin ordered.

Anakin entered the cell and waved his hand.

"You will answer my questions."

Poggle clicked in his Geonosian language. The protocol droid translated.

"Your feeble Jedi mind tricks do not work on Geonosians. The other Jedi already learned this."

Anakin turned around.

Mind tricks?" Then he swiftly turned around and punched Poggle into the corner. "I don't need mind tricks to get you to talk."

"I will never talk, Jedi." Poggle clicked.

"We'll see about that, Poggle." Anakin cupped his right hand toward Poggle's throat, holding him in a Force-choke.

Ahsoka ran and ran through the halls, trying to escape her infected friend. But Barriss wouldn't let up. Instead, she threw Ahsoka into the wall at the end of the hall, then tried to strike her with her lightsaber, only for Ahsoka to fight back and continue running. Fortunately, Ahsoka found an air vent, which she managed to hide in.

Anakin met with Masters Luminara, Kenobi, and Mundi, and told them he made contact with Ahsoka.

"What's their status?" asked Obi-Wan.

"Geonosian parasites have infected most of her crew." Anakin said.

"How did they get on board their ship?"

"Poggle said the parasites must have needed a new host after we raided the Queen's temple." Anakin said.

"You interrogated Poggle?" Luminara said, surprised.

"I did." said Anakin. "There wasn't time to get the rest of you."

"How did you get him to talk?" Ki-Adi asked.

"Look, all that matters is that he told me how to stop the worms."

Ahsoka, still hiding in the vent, was soon in contact with Anakin again.

"Ahsoka, listen to me." said Anakin. "The worms are affected by the cold."

"Cold?" Ahsoka said. "That's how we stop them?"

"Rupture the coolant system."

Ahsoka quickly covered her wrist comm and moved away from the vent opening as an infected clone walked by.

"Did you hear me?" said Anakin over the comm. "Rupture the coolant system."

"The coolant system. Got it." said Ahsoka.

Ahsoka jumped out of the vent, and ran into Carousella, who had just been coming into the hall with Trap on her back.

"Oh! It's just you, Ahsoka." Carousella sighed in relief.

"Boy, am I glad to see you guys." Ahsoka said.

"Where's Barriss?" Trap asked.

"Infected. We have to rupture the coolant system to stop the worms." Ahsoka explained.

"I know where that is. Hop on." Carousella said, and the Togruta got onto the musicorn's back, and they headed on their way to save the others.

Carousella let her riders down as they arrive in the coolant system.

Ahsoka and Trap started pressing some buttons, and then Carousella pushed the lever down with her hooves, which made the room start filling up with cold clouds of gas.

"Brrr! These worms won't be the only ones affected." Carousella shivered.

And, the cold actually started to work, and just in time too, as they were arriving at the medical facility. Of course, Master Fisto warned his crew to be wary of the parasites, to contain them, and be prepared for anything.

Carousella tried to warm Ahsoka and Trap up by wrapping her wings around them, but it didn't help much. At least their masks protected their noses from getting too cold. But then Barriss came after them again. Carousella blasted Bariss with her magic and helped Ahsoka get to the vent to reach the bridge. But, Barriss managed to get past the musicorn and started to attack the bridge, throwing the ship off course as the bridge was struck by her lightsaber.

The ship got colder and colder faster. Ahsoka aimed a pipe of cold clouds at Bariss to help her.

"Kill me, please." Bariss begged, to Ahsoka's dismay.

"I can't." Ahsoka said.

Barriss tried to attack Ahsoka again, this time with the worm escaped her throat. But Ahsoka killed the worm with her lightsaber, and the ship was safely pulled onto the medical facility, which was now like a giant freezer on the inside.

Ahsoka soon woke up to find herself in a bed, and Anakin was in a chair nearby. She was scared.

"It's all right, Ahsoka. It's okay." Anakin soothed. "You're safe."

Anakin helped Ahsoka lay back down and pulled a blanket over her.

"Barriss?" Ahsoka asked.

"Barriss is fine, thanks to your efforts." Anakin motioned to another bed, where Barriss was fast asleep. "And so are Carousella and the clones."

Carousella had to see a separate doctor, being a magical creature and an animal and all. Luckily, the medical facilities added veterinary services and supplies since some of the four-legged creature inhabited kingdoms of Mythiria joined the Republic cause in the war.

Master Fisto confirmed that the parasites were indeed the cause of the clones behavior. Carousella also walked in, but her nose was a little red.

"You were very smart to think of masks, Carousella." Kit praised, petting the musicorn's head.

"I thought it only made sense." Carousella said, sounding stuffed up. "They only entered the nose and sometimes exited the mouth, as far as I know, so I figured if they can't get through, they can't infect us."

"Queen Reigna was definitely right about you being a smart mare," said Anakin, getting out a sugar cookie, a treat reserved for Carousella. She definitely earned it.

Carousella immediately munched the cookie from Anakin's hand, only to find she could barely taste it. And she started sneezing.

"You have been through quite the ordeal, little one." Fisto told Ahsoka.

"Master Skywalker, may I have a word?" Ahsoka asked.

"Come, Carousella. We best take care of that cold of yours." Kit said.

Carousella and Kit left the room to give them some privacy, and to take care of the sick mare.

"Don't even think about trying to eavesdrop, Carousella Mareheart." Anakin said, not even looking at the door.

Carousella popped her head into the room, "You'd make a pretty good royal guard, Skywalker." She said, then left for real this time, leaving the Master and Padawan to talk.

Ahsoka told Anakin about how Bariss wanted her friend to kill her, but she couldn't do it. But, Ahsoka wondered if she should have despite it working out this time."

"Ahsoka, it's your duty to save as many lives as you can." Anakin said. "Barriss knew you could save thousands if the worms were destroyed, which she though meant destroying her too. But you did the right thing. You knew the freezing cold would kill the worms."

AAACHOO! A blast of gold magic blew through the hallway as it sounded like a horse sneezed.

"And gave a certain musicorn a cold. Anyway, letting go of our loved ones is a difficult struggle for all of us. And I have a daughter who knows very well that she never knows if she'll see certain loved ones again especially during this war. You followed your instincts in this scenario. I'm sure both she and Barriss would agree that you made the right choice."