Chapter Text
It’s not to say that other clone squads and legions are anything less than great, but there was something about Clone Force 99 that made your time with them more enjoyable. This wasn’t just because of their enhancements or talents or even their looks. It was more because of their inherent freedoms that other clones weren’t capable of.
It’s rare for one clone, even a ranking one, to question their superior. It’s only been with clone force 99 that the entire squad was ready to try and tweak your plans. Although, voicing their opinion really just means complaining.
“Hiking the whole way in was a stupid plan, Commander.” Wrecker says some steps behind.
This was how it’s been the entire way in. Each member taking a turn to complain about the hike in full armor and weapons. Even Hunter making a comment here and there about stopping at a stream no one else but he could hear. As if you had a choice in the landing of the Havoc Marauder. On a humid planet, with trees taller than the average Star cruiser, there was little no chance getting the Marauder in subtly. Instead you were to take a day long hike to reach the Separatist base.
At the same time Master Skywalker and his own men would engage enemy forces above the planet. Destroying the separatist communication base would not only disrupt the Separatist but also act as a distraction. In theory you and your men would have disappeared back into the woods before Separatist forces arrived.
For the most part that was what happened. The bulk of the mission going successfully; computer was wiped and collected, every droid Hunter could find was made obsolete, and the charges were set.
Separatist reinforcements made a fly by as the charges were being set. Three starfighters flew overhead, each dropping a payload of dark pink dust over the tree line.
In hindsight you really should have made the order to avoid the particles as much as possible. Instead it was simply assumed that the armor your men wore would be enough. You all only stopped when a mile distance was made between yourselves and the base. Even then, the momentum only slowed to a walk.
“What is this stuff?” Wrecker was the first to say, rubbing the pink dust between his fingers.
“It’s…sweet,” Hunter says, his thumb pressed under his nose to smell the dust deeply.
“It’s everywhere,” Crosshair adds. Falling inline to walk side by side with you. “But I don’t see it as a weapon they’ve used before.”
“Is it a Jedi thing?” Echo asks and four of the five men pause in the walk to look directly at you. Tech still looking at his pad without missing a step, making it a few feet ahead of everyone else.
“No, at least nothing I’ve heard of.” Was all you could say. “If the separatist are using it then there is no way it’d be associated with the Jedi. My credits are on residue from the gun ships during that fly by.”
There was a collective, but silent, groan that could be felt in the Force when Tech says “Actually….” Stopping several feet ahead of the group but making no move to join the rest of you. Instead forcing the audience to come to him.
“Actually it’s a Psychochemical weapon, code named Siren Song. Though there are only two recordings of it used in combat.” He says with an adjustment to his goggles. “General Obi-Wan Kenobi was the first person to come across it when he and a small squad of the 212th attack battalion infiltrated a separatist lab. General Kenobi reported no effects from the weapon on himself, but it affected his men greatly after the battle. The now destroyed lab was led by a disgraced Kaminoan. This was likely the reason the weapon was designed to only effect clones.”
It took a guiding hand to get Tech to walk and talk at the same time. Placing him in the center of the group so everyone could hear. Hunter was the only one not actively listening, keeping his head lowered to watch the trail at the very head of the group.
“So our fearless leader is in the clear.” Echo says, his human hand gently holding the back of your neck in a joking manner. You couldn’t help but smile along with it, but then going straight back to business.
“What exactly does the weapon do, Tech?” You ask.
“Starting symptoms include a raise in heart-rate, temperature and overall arousal. This will then lead to growing adrenaline which could cause cardiac-arrest, stroke or fatal interactions with others affected.” He says, with the same professionalism and enthusiasm he gives anything he explains. “It seems the weapon’s effects can be completely flushed from the body through orgasm release from a third party. It’s only through a mixture of hormones with a partner that the weapon can be overridden and, essentially, cured.”
It takes a few seconds for Tech to realize what he had suggested. It was the same story with the rest of men. No one was saying it, but everyone was obviously thinking it, and no one could make eye contact.
“We can make it back to the Marauder, at least.” Echo says, looking to Tech for a nod.
“It’s unclear when the effects will-.”
“We’ll make it.” Hunter interrupts Tech, his voice gruffer than usual.
It only took an hour for the affects to start showing on your men. At first it was easy to pretend the groans and moans coming from your men were simply from the hike. Then, after a particularly loud Ahh! from Wrecker he slammed his helmet down. Very soft, but very distinct, hissing stating that the internal cooling was activated.
Echo and Tech walked as if they were on their way to an execution. Faced forward, stone expression and absolutely no other movement than was necessary. You know it’s bad when Tech doesn’t even hold his pad while walking, as even that movement seemed to be too much.
The smart thing to do would be to slow down, let them get ahead and away from you, but Crosshair kept that from happening. He always manned the rear of the group, be it from a distance or even for travel. Slowing down away from the others just resulted in Crosshair coming in close from the back.
Usually, when getting close to Crosshair, his hand finds it’s way onto you. This was a trait that the entire batch had. As someone who practically lived deep in the Force it would take physical touch to make you aware of the living world. Instead of a sturdy hand on your back or one on your shoulder, he simply hovered. His fingers grazing lightly but immediately being pulled away.
Like the others he doesn’t say anything when you turn to look at him. Unlike the others he didn’t look away when you searched his face. Even in the dark of the woods it wasn’t hard to see the pale outline of his face, of a thinly pressed mouth, and the pink sprinkles in the white hair. He was never one to shy away from eye-contact, he and Hunter were similar in that regard.
Hunter.
It was only then that you realized your second in command was currently MIA. It’s hard to tell how long he had been gone exactly but it was enough to make you speak up after hours of silence.
“Where did Hunter go?” You asked. It seemed rude to be surrounded by men, all who failed to hide their wants, and ask for the one man not among them.
“He went up ahead.” Tech says, head looking to the ground. “We would have heard if anything happened to him. He would have whistled, he would called, he would have whistled…”
“He knows to get back to Marauder,” Echo interrupts.
“I was getting to that.” Tech is still staring at the ground, but he says it with irritation.
“You never get to it, Tech. You talk and talk.” Wrecker sounds just as annoyed as his brothers.
“Coming from someone who can barely string together a sentence.” It’s hard to tell if Crosshair was annoyed or not, as his voice always seems to have that edge to it.
There would be another hour or so hike back to the ship at this rate. Watching you men shuffle awkwardly just standing still was bad enough, hearing them start to fight was worse.
“Hey!” You snap, raising your voice just above their own.
In that split second you witnessed just how hard they were holding back. From faces down to the ground they all stared to you in the center of them. Wrecker, in hist helmet, standing to full height. Tech leaning forward in an opposite reaction of Wrecker, his head tilting slightly to see your next move. Echo stepped forward into your space and slightly to the side, creating the smallest of barriers between you, Wrecker and Tech. Although you couldn’t see Crosshair had come closer from behind you. His restrained hand now loosened to gently touch your hand, a way to say he was there.
“There-we passed a waterfall on the way in. It connected to the stream we landed next to. Go there and get ready to camp for the night. We aren’t going to make it back to the Marauder at this rate.” You ordered, although any authority you once had seemed to have leaked out. The men slowly going back to their restrained attitude as you continue. Scrounging up the last of your confidence as a leader. “Hunter and I will meet you there once I find him. This wasn’t a suggestion, either.”
Taking a few steps off of the deer trail you’ve been following your men makes their way up the path. Albeit slowly, with many glances back towards you. You only stop returning those looks to open your holocomm to the Resolute, specifically to Master Skywalker.
“Someone is late,” Anakin says upon appearing in your palm.
When in a war room or in the presence of other Jedi he was Master Skywalker. When using private channels he was Anakin, the fellow jedi who was only a few years ahead of you during your padawan years. He was also the only one you could reach for help.
“Yeah, we’re gonna be really late. My squad has come across a psychochemical weapon and now they might be in trouble.” In the time it takes to say this Anakin’s smug look leaves and is replaced with crossed arms and nit eyebrows.
“What happened?” He asks.
It’s a juggle to walk through the woods while explaining everything that had happened. The symptoms and current state of your men. “Obi-wan faced it before with his own squad but I don’t know who else faced the Siren Song. I’m sorry but you are the only one I can ask.”
“I wasn’t there when Obi-wan’s men was hit with it, but I heard about it’s effects. If your men are truly affected, you need to get away from them. Immediately.” Anakin says.
A flash back to how your men looked. How different it was, yet not enough to make them strangers. It’s an intense feeling that is hard to explain. So intense that you can’t help but say; “I can help them, though. They’ll start falling apart if we wait too long.”
Anakin says your name. He says it the same way he said it to get you to pay attention, to break through your tears as a padawan and to listen. Knowing Anakin’s reputation it was almost embarrassing when he was the rational one.
“I won’t be able to help you aside for waiting a day before leaving orbit. If you are going to do this you have to be sure, absolutely sure.” He says.
There was no hesitation on your end. “Yes, I am sure. We will rendezvous in the morning. Thank you.”
“You have the implant in, right? And your men are up to date?” He suddenly asks before you could hang up.
It was harder than it should have to not roll your eyes. It was the same question he would ask when you were younger, and boys became more than just that.
“Yes, Anakin. Thank you.” You say, quickly hanging up before the conversation could go any further in that direction.