#wish I could go find those state troopers and cuss them out

[evabellasworld]

Storm of the Republic

Chapter 17

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Summary:  When Tup murdered General Tiplar during a battle, Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex dispatched Ahsoka, Fives, and Yara to solve the mystery that was plaguing the Clone Army. Meanwhile, Senator Padme Amidala contacted Commander Fox, Commander Tori, Riyo Chuchi, and Dipper to help her continue investigating the death of Palpatine, suspecting that Dooku was behind the evil plot. But when Dooku send an ISB agent to stop them, the team had to race against time to search for the truth, which could alter the course of the galaxy.

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“Agent Darling,” Admiral Trench contacted her through a hologram. “I regret to report to you that our assets were taken by the Jedi. They had ambushed our shuttle and destroyed every one of our droids.”

Rhea could only nod, her hands guarded behind her. “No worries, admiral. I’ll handle it from here,” she replied in a calm tone. “I wish you luck on your battles on Ringo Vinda. May the odds be in your favour.”

“Thank you, agent,” Admiral Trench bowed as their transmission ended.

Those Jedi are so naïve, she laughed to herself, holding a lighter in her hand. It was just an ordinary lighter which she bought on Coruscant yesterday, but she treasured them by decorating it with assorted stickers.

This was her 43rd lighter that she owned currently. Since Rhea could smoke, she spent her allowance on cigarettes and lighter. Though she would throw the cigarette box after finishing all 20 sticks in 20 days, she was fond of the lighters.

The current one she was holding right now was painted in fuchsia, which matched her personality. It was originally silver, but Rhea attempted to make it more eye-catching, and her talent in arts and craft had paid off.

If she wasn’t an agent, she would sell crafted lighters to her customers instead. She could make some money out of her hobby once she retired from her service for the Galactic Empire.

Looking at the time on her heart-shaped clock, she straightened her posture and adjusted her hair, before reaching out to Lenora on Coruscant. “Hey Nora,” Rhea addressed her by her nickname. “How are you doing today? Did you miss me?”

“Well, kinda,” Lenora replied, in a cheerful voice. “My office feels quiet without you. It’s not the same eating all by myself, you know.”

“I wish I could join you, but duty calls, unfortunately,” she twirled her hair. “Anyway, how’s your progress with Senator Amidala? I heard from the Emperor that you’re getting there.”

“I’m doing great on my mission so far. From what I gathered, Senator Amidala left her office much earlier during the day and headed straight back home.”

“Okay, what was her excuse this time?”

“She had a headache, and she needed to rest,” Lenora spilled the tea. “Honestly, though, I don’t buy it. She used that excuse over three times.”

“Obviously she’s lying. For all I know, she could contact someone outside of Coruscant. Did you figure out who the caller was?”

Lenora shook her head. “Unfortunately, it was a cloaked transmission, so I wasn’t able to figure out, but it was definitely outside of Coruscant. Do you think it could be the Republic remnants’ army?”

“It’s possible,” Rhea agreed with her. “Most of her allies were on the other side, such as Anakin Skywalker and Senator Chuchi. She was extremely close with them throughout the war.”

“That’s true. It’s only a matter of time before this mysterious caller exposed themselves, along with Senator Amidala’s treachery to the Empire,” Lenora stated, before changing the topic. “So, what about you, Ri? What did the Emperor ask you to do this time?”

“It’s something related to Protocol Order 66,” she told him. “Apparently, a clone trooper killed his Jedi General mid-battle. Crazy, right?”

Lenora chuckled. “What an odd coincidence. I read about this protocol in Palpatine’s and the Young twins’ file.

“Well, tell me more about it. That could be useful in tracking down that clone.”

“Wait, did that clone get away or something? What happened? I thought you already captured him.”

“The Jedi got him, for now,” she flicked her lighter. “But I’ll have them, eventually. It’s only a matter of time before someone spotted them on another planet.”

Sitting on the co-pilot’s seat, Yara crossed her arms and glared at Fives as he sat beside her, with a wide smile on his face. “Sorry, Yara, but the captain seemed to favour me more than you.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Yara cussed at her brother as she looked away from him. “At least I have a brain cell, unlike you.”

“Well, I’m not the one who’s constantly late to training every single day,” he pointed out her flaw, causing her to pat him on the shoulder.

“Fuck you!”

“Anyway, we’ll be jumping into hyperspace, so try not to fall,” he teased her, making her hold her tongue.

I wish I could kill him instantly; she sneered at herself as she rested her head on her seat. He’s such a pest sometimes.

As their shuttle made the jump, Yara breathed in relief as she closed her eyes and hugged herself, hoping she could wake up by the time they reached the Anaxes. After what happened with Tup, she could finally have a long rest for herself.

On the other hand, Fives was bored. He was tempted to poke Yara’s puffy cheeks and show his tongue at her, but it was too boring for him. “I should just check on Tup,” he groaned, as he got up from the captain’s seat and walked away from the cockpit.

Tup was deep asleep on his gurney, his arms and legs restrained from any movement he made. His pulse was slowing down and Fives could swear that his body felt warmer than usual. “Hang in here, vod,” he squeezed his hand. “You’ll be okay. I know you would. You can do this, Tup.”

He paced back and forth in the room, wondering if he would arrive at the base faster. He knows it’s a long journey back home, but he wanted time to fly faster. If only he could control time, just like the stories he heard from his friend Dipper.

Yesterday, Fives was playing a board game with Tup, Yara, Jesse, and Kix in their barracks, competing on who gets to be the richest. All five of them were buying properties with the game money and had to pay each other rent every time someone landed on an owned property

Yara was cursing non-stop at having to pay rent to her brothers, while Tup was just relaxing in his jail cell, hoarding all the game money. Ronopoly was the game that had caused many breakups between family, friends, and romantic couples, but Fives thought it did the opposite.

Sure, the five of them argued with each other about who was going to win, but as soon as Kix packed up the game, they were having dinner together at the mess hall, forgetting what had happened in their barrack. Tup was an expert in Ronopoly, and Fives was pleased that he won the game seven times in a row.

I hope he’s okay; he smiled at Tup as he headed back into the cockpit, only to find Yara asleep on his seat. Oh, you got to be fucking kidding me. Seriously, she’s such an ass sometimes.

“Yara, get up,” Fives tapped on her cheeks. “You’re in my seat.”

His sister turned away and continued to sleep in her arms, leaving him to constrain his frustration. “I know you’re still awake. Get up, bitch.”

Without looking or saying a word to him, Yara showed the middle finger to him, her eyes still closed. Fives huffed as he was about to drag her by the leg, only to be kicked in the face. “Oh, you motherfucker-“

“Fuck you, Fives,” Yara jolted from her seat. “I slept here, so that makes it mine now.”

“Bitch, I was there before you.”

“Well, you neglected your duties as a captain, so now, I’m in charge.”

“Says who? Rex put me in charge, so technically, that makes me more competent with you.”

“Fuck you, bitch. You can’t make me move.”

Without hesitating, Fives picked up Yara with all his strength and put her back in the co-pilot’s seat, much to her protest. “Fuck you, Fives!” she yelled. “You’re not my brother anymore.”

“I’m honoured,” Fives bite back. “You were found in a garbage bin on Kamino.”

“Fuck your mother!”

“We were made in the test tube, you di’kut.”

“Then, fuck your test tube!”

“Fuck your test tube too, Yara,” Fives cursed at her, when he heard the radar beeping, much to his bewilderment. “Wait, are we back at the base already? That was fast.”

“I don’t know,” Yara shrugged, scratching her head. “I don’t remember the journey being this short.”

Realizing what was going on, both of them frantically jumped out of hyperspace, only to find themselves surrounded with fields of asteroids. “Oh, I have a bad feeling about this.”