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Anakin's POV
"I'm sorry about Aayla," I sighed quietly as Mando and I walked slowly along the lake line. I decided to catch up with him as Yoda spoke with both Cal and Ahsoka about the recent events that took place. I felt bad for not being the one to tell him, but I already found just thinking about her difficult. I couldn't possibly be the one to tell her father figure that she was gone for good - at least not without a breakdown.

So I chose to walk with Mando instead - I wouldn't necessarily call him and I the best of friends. We had only met a few times previously when he would work alongside Aayla, and I had the pleasure of coming along. The first time him and I met was actually the first time him and Aayla met as well, I was still a Padawan at the time. But I knew him decently enough to trust him, and to know just how deep his and Aayla's friendship had formed.

They were the best of friends, and I would say that him and I were on the borderline between friends and acquaintances, "I'm sorry too." His helmeted head lowered as he spoke in a sorrowful tone, "I heard you had a fiancé."

I twisted my head with furrowed brows, "How do you know about that?"

He chuckled; his beskar helmet causing it to come out muffled and deep. It sort of reminded me of my Princess and the way her mask altered her voice in the same way, "A famous Jedi General such as yourself defies the ancient code and gets engaged to another famous Jedi - news like that travels everywhere and fast."

I nearly forgot that everyone learned of my engagement after the heartbreaking disaster that was meant to be my wedding. At least I know now that that day wasn't my fault like I thought, nor was it hers. I know Palpatine did something to her head to get her to do what she did. Everything was apart of his sick plan to taint her mind, I feel so stupid for not catching onto it all earlier,

"Leave it to you, the reckless Padawan I met nearly six years ago, to be the one to break a scared code for a woman." He added in an attempt to uplift my somber expression that appeared at the mention of my gone love.

I chuckled with a shrug, "Well, if you had ever had the pleasure of meeting her, I'm sure you'd understand why."

"I'm sure she was lovely," Our parallel steps began to slow as the air grew thick between us. The question he wanted to ask lingered in the air until it left his hidden lips, "Did you lose her during the purge too?"

"Yes," From a certain point of view, I did, "I wasn't there for her like I should have been. She was in the temple, sick, and I was across the stars on another planet."

He remained quiet and I didn't need to see his face to feel the regret and pain coming from him - it felt similar to my own, "I was supposed to be there too you know," He revealed, and I furrowed my brows, unsure of what he was referring too, "On Felucia," He clarified, "Aayla asked if I would go to help her, and I said yes. But then last minute I backed out for.. personal reasons," He remained vague, although I already had a feeling of what those reasons were - I'm not blind, "And so I stayed at the guilds cantina and drank the night away with some other Twi'lek." His muffled voice was dripping with regret.

I placed my hand on his shoulder for comfort, "You would have most likely died too, the entire army turned against us and they would have attacked you if you defended her. I'm sure in her last moments she was glad that you weren't there."

"I know," He sighed heavily as he lifted his head up towards the sky, "Thats what I keep telling myself in order to sleep at night."

I removed my hand from his shoulder and dropped it back down to my side, "I have to ask, were you and Aayla ever.." I trailed off insinuating what I was meaning to ask.

He lowered his head back down and shook it, "Sadly no, she followed the code to every last decimal point." He chuckled quietly, "No matter how much it frustrated me."

I nodded in understanding. Aayla really was incredibly professional, but she was still kind and compassionate in comparison to the rest of the rude and emotionless Jedi, "I'm guessing those personal reasons had something to do with her?"

He nodded slowly, "I opened up, I even took my helmet off for her, but she closed herself off and said, 'I feel it too Din, but I must honor my code'," He recited her words in her rare unknown accent.

"Ah, leading you to drink and divulge in the company of others - I can relate, sort of," I may not have laid with anyone else, but I sure as hell destroyed my liver.

"Yeah," He concurred, "Not my proudest moment-" He paused his speaking, and I furrowed my brows as I glanced down to the babbling noises that had interrupted him. It sounded like they were coming from a bag he had hoisted over his shoulder.

"Do you have a baby in there?" I asked, pointing to the moving bag.

He sighed as he removed the loose flap to reveal the little green child that I hadn't seen in over a year, "It's just this little, thing." He spoke about Grogu as if he was an annoying inconvenience. Reminding me of the day (y/n) and I received our inconveniences, "He crawled in there and fell asleep while I was flying, so I just left him there." He shrugged, "I'm meant to watch him while Yoda goes off on some daughter-searching quest. I was only giving him a ride to you because the junk he arrived in when he found me practically fell apart."

I glanced over towards the safe house to see that Cal and Ahsoka were no longer with Yoda, but instead, he was sitting alone - staring at the lake with an expression of pure heartbreak.

My heart hurt for him - I always had a feeling he'd arrive eventually, there's no way he would have missed the change in the force, "That may not even be necessary."

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Max's POV
I slowly opened my eyes and squinted them due to the blinding light from the ceiling. My head was pounding painfully, but for the first time in a year, I felt present, and my mind was silent.

I sat up and I was immediately greeted with Jimmy, "Captain, are you alright?" He attempted to help me stand up from the floor that General (y/l/n), no, Lilith left me on.

But I held my hand out to stop him, "I'll be fine, just give me a second." I let out a deep breath before placing the same hand on my throbbing head.

It may have been silent, but I could still feel two parts of my mind fighting for dominance. The chip that must have been damaged from the head trauma was trying to keep control while my actual mind was trying to resist.

"Are you sure?" Jimmy placed his hand on my shoulder, "You hit your head pretty hard, you could have a concussion. I think you should see a medical droid."

"No," I instantly responded and it came out harsher than intended. Although I do believe he's right about the concussion part seeing as I was dizzy, nauseous, and my head felt like it was splitting into two. I couldn't risk a droid catching on to the chip that was failing, I could be executed - I wouldn't be the first, "I mean I feel fine, I promise; I just need some water."

I stood up slowly and used the wall for support, and Jimmy was eyeing me like he didn't believe me, "But sir-"

"Don't you have a round to do?" I interrupted him rudely and he took a step back in surprise at my hostile tone.

He then scowled with narrowed eyes, "It appears I do." He spat while he turned away from me and stomped down the hall.

I'd feel bad if that was actually Jimmy, but it's not, none of us were who we used to be with these chips in our heads. Even now I feel it trying to take over my identity again.

I slowly walked down the halls, gripping the walls for support - until another trooper stopped me to check on my condition, "Are you alright?" Dax questioned softly as he removed his helmet.

I nodded, "Yes, just go back to what you were doing trooper, I'll be fine." I assured him, trying my best to sound as confident as I could.

What I was trying to do was make it to an escape pod to leave this place. It hurt to leave my brothers behind, but I can't attempt to bring them with me without a bullet to the head. I just needed to find the clones that have been freed from their chains - they'll be able to help me before I lose myself again. I was there the entire time I did those horrible things, killing my own friends, but it was as if I didn't have any control over my body.

Now I do and I had no idea how long I had so I needed help, fast. Then maybe I'll be able to come back and save the rest; especially the three that are closest to me.

"No," Dax got closer to me as his narrowed eyes peered into mine in thought, "Did you hit your head Captain?" He tilted his head to the side.

"Barely," I lied nervously, my hand slowly going for the blaster that is currently set to stun.

He raised his head upwards and remained quiet for a few moments, as if he was contemplating something, "It's quiet isn't it?" He finally asked - taking me completely by surprise.

"What are you talking about?" I continued to play stupid in case he was testing me.

He shook his head, "You don't need to lie to me. The eyes change when you're no longer a slave. It's like the human emotions return, and give our eyes character again."

I stood up straight with surprise still lingering across my features. It's becoming clear to me that he too no longer had a functioning chip, "How long Dax?"

He dropped his sorrow filled gaze to the floor, "Too long. Since the battle on Alderaan," My eyes widened, that was almost an entire year ago, it was one of the first battles we fought for the Empire, "I only stayed to make sure nothing happened to you three."

I placed my hand in his shoulder, "That was a hard sacrifice, but we can't live like this. Nor can we let them live like this. We might be clones, but we're still human, not puppets."

He nodded slowly in agreement, "I know but I only had me before, there wasn't much I could do."

"Well, now you have me, but I don't know if I have long." I sighed, rubbing my fingers frustratingly through my hair - my headache getting worse.

"So what do you suggest Captain?"

I looked down both ends of the halls to make sure no one was around, "Get Edge, I'll get Jimmy, and we'll meet at the escape pods in T-minus fifteen minutes - stun him or hit him over the head if you have to. We're getting these chips out."

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Hope you enjoyed it, although I know it was a bit on the boring side 🤍
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