Chapter Text
They sit back down, Anakin sharing a look with Obi-Wan who sets his tea cup down slowly and then glancing at Plo Koon who looks as inscrutable as ever. They seem calm, though, both of them, while Anakin's chest clenches funnily.
It's hard to stay calm in the face of accusation like that.
"That is quite the thing to say," Master Koon finally comments, while Miles eyes them all mildly – for all that he'd just accused them of slavery, it doesn't show on his face. He looks just politely interested. "The use of the clones is a… controversial topic at the best of times, but…" he trails off, humming.
"Slavery is a strong word to use," Obi-Wan says warily, watching Miles with slight frown.
"It's a strong subject too," Miles points out, leaning back on his chair and sending the staff spinning by its axis. If it wasn't for the topic of conversation and the weight of the man's accusation, he'd almost look bored. "And I'm not hearing you deny it either, which is funny."
"Funny," Anakin repeats. "You think this is funny?"
Miles doesn't answer, arching a brow at him and then looking at Obi-Wan. "What I've learned of the times and your culture so far has been damn limited, so I can't tell if this is the norm or not," he comments almost blandly. "Maybe you clone people willy-nilly and indoctrination of people from infancy is just… the way of life now. Is it, Obi-Wan?"
"No," Obi-Wan says slowly, uncomfortably. "No, it is not. The matter of the clone troopers is… a special case."
Miles looks at him expectantly. Somehow, the calm interest he's all but exuding seems… almost dangerous in its deceptiveness. When Obi-Wan fails to continue, the man's eyebrows arch slightly. "None of my business, then?" the white-robed man asks wryly.
Obi-Wan leans back a little, stroking his beard and looking to Anakin and Plo Koon seriously. Anakin clasps his hands and bows his head a little, smothering a grimace. It really isn't any of this guy's business, no, Miles isn't even part of the Republic, really – they're on the edges of neutral territories here, no one claims ownership of this region. Never mind the fact that the matter of the clones is the actual Republic state secret – the High Chancellor himself had sworn all those in the know – the Jedi, specifically – into secrecy. And the Jedi High Council had agreed to it too, because of course they had. It was one of their own who commissioned the damn army.
Publicising the truth behind the creation of the Clone Army is an actual treasonous offence, and even Jedi aren't above being convicted of treason. The word slave, though, used on the clones… Shit. It's not like Anakin hadn't ever thought about it. It isn't as if no Jedi had. It wasn't to be said out loud, of course not, and they all did what they could to mitigate it, but…
Miles waits for them to say something and try as he might, Anakin can't quite come up with a way to answer him. He's never had to come face to face with the slavery accusation before, not like this – unlike some jedi, he'd just gone straight to the field.
Master Koon and Obi-Wan, on other hand, have.
"The legality and ethics of the Clone Army have been discussed at length in multiple sessions of the Republic Senate," Master Koon says carefully. "There have been and still are objectors. The fact to the matter is, the Clone Army exists. However it was made… to allow them the purpose which they believe is theirs by right is a lesser evil."
"… and the greater evil?" Miles asks, his voice very level. "What's that, then?"
Conscription of Republic citizens to fight in the war and the potential decommissioning of the clones. Both of which Anakin knows, just as well as Obi-Wan and Koon do, aren't real justifications.
"… The use of the Clone Army was sanctioned by the Republic Senate in a public majority vote," Obi-Wan says. "And the Jedi Order was put in command of it – we could not refuse."
Miles blinks at that, and then his whole demeanour changes. In an instant gone is the deceptive calm and in its place there's almost predatory sharpness. "Why couldn't you refuse?" he asks. "Your order, it's, what, beholden to your Republic Senate? You have to do what they say?"
"Quite so," Obi-Wan says, and though something of his body language relaxes a little at this change, Anakin can feel his unease. "The Jedi Order serves the Galactic Republic, we could not refuse a direct order by majority of the Senate and its High Councillor."
"And if it wasn't us in command of the Clone Army, they'd put someone else in charge," Anakin says slowly, frowning. "During the time the Clone Army was put into use, the Republic had no standing military as such, we only barely have a Navy. There wasn't need for it, before, so there was none of the command structure needed to head an army like the GAR. There's no knowing who would've taken over, if not us."
"We Jedi aren't soldiers," Koon says thoughtfully. "We are diplomats and peacekeepers in service of the Republic. It is an… attractive combination, to the Senate and the member systems of the Republic."
Miles looks between them thoughtfully, his eyes sharp. "I see," he says. "So what would've happened to you if you'd refused?"
Obi-Wan clears his throat but doesn't answer, and Koon just hums, noncommittal. Neither can actually say it. Loss of Republic's good faith, loss of status – loss of funding. It might've not been instant, but it would've happened. Jedi would've been seen as abstaining from the defence of the Republic. Like hell they would've been praised for it.
"We are Jedi," Anakin says into the stilted silence. "We work for the safety and peace of the Republic."
Miles smiles darkly at that, and sends the golden staff spinning by its axis. "So, slavery is the norm, then," he says and sighs. "Okay. I'd like to go back to my planet and back to sleep, now, thank you."
"Slavery is not the norm," Anakin says sharply. "It's illegal in the Republic."
"It's our hope that once the war is over, the clones can have civilian lives," Obi-Wan adds. "But for as long as the war continues, the greater good –"
"You say that," Miles interrupts, giving him a look. "And it sounds so nice, seriously, very pretty. But again, genetically engineered indoctrinated slave army. Of child soldiers, when you get technical about it."
"However they were raised, they're still men with free will," Plo Koon comments. "Once their service is over, they can choose their own way of life."
"Their training not an insurmountable obstacle," Obi-Wan says quietly. "We're already witnessing great deal of individuality among the clones. As they grow more experienced, they achieve more independence both in thought and action. Most of their – indoctrination is in the matter of warfare, their military training – which is more of a skill set than set of ideals."
Judging by Miles' expression, that's not quite good enough. He's also starting to look a little sad, and it's not only for the clone's behalf anymore. Anakin isn't sure what to feel about that, other than that he does not like it much. It feels like something about to go terribly wrong here.
"This issue seems almost personal to you," Master Koon comments. "I commend you for your empathy in the matter, it is always heartening to see people care for the wellbeing and happiness of the Clone Troopers. Still, considering your history, it is… telling that you care this much."
Obi-Wan frowns a little. "There were stories of a… Dark Lord and enslavement in Earth's past," he comments and looks at Miles. "Happening after the solar flare, I believe."
Miles smiles faintly at that and shifts in his seat, looking between them. "Yeah," he muses and spins the staff idly back and forth. "Yeah, that happened. I kind of hoped it wouldn't carry on into the future, afterwards, but… oh, would look at that, history, how it repeats itself. Over and fucking over again."
"What are you talking about?" Anakin asks, frowning. "So there was a Dark Lord on Earth?"
Miles doesn't answer immediately, staring at his staff. "Thousands of years of human history on Earth. Hundreds of thousands of years. And it all gets condensed to the last century or so," he muses and looks up. "Also don't think I don't see you trying to change the subject."
"We've actually gotten wildly off the original subject," Anakin points out. "The subject being you, Earth, and your devices."
Miles snorts. "No, that's all still the same subject, actually," he says and sighs. "You asked about the powers this thing has," he says and nods to the golden staff, held loosely in one hand, still spinning back and forth, back and forth. "Its main power is mass indoctrination. That's what it was created for, to control the masses. Of mostly slaves."
There's a moment of silence at that while Miles idly spins the staff. Obi-Wan is the one to speak. "Mass indoctrination. It can…"
"Control minds, yeah," Miles agrees. "It was created by the Precursors, back when they made us – humans, that is. That's how they controlled us. Enslavement, indoctrination, mind control… mostly mind control, but mass indoctrination is cheaper and easier on mass scale than keeping people in constant mental chains. Just make people believe they want to serve you, and… yeah."
"The Precursors?" Master Koon asks, leaning back a little.
Miles glances at Anakin and Obi-Wan. "Earth had two species of dominant sapients," he says, arching his brows. "First came the Isu, our Precursors, who died about ninety thousand years ago. Don't know when they came about, precisely, our written history never went back far enough…" he considers it for a moment, concentrating. Then he shakes his head, "Either way, they made us, humans, sometime before they died out, we never found out for sure when that happened either, exactly," he says, frowning. "Anyway, the Isu created these devices of mine – to control humans."
"I'm following," Master Koon agrees, and through his normal calm Anakin can sense a thread of interest – and disturbance. And he can't blame the Master. "But what do you mean they made you humans."
"They created humans. They took a simian, an animal basically, and mutated its genome bit by bit, until they got," he motions at himself, "A genetically engineered slave race of slightly smarter, slightly more capable peons with susceptible herd mentality and weakness to mind control, indoctrination and manipulation. Something which you have perfected now, I've found."
No one knows what to say to that. Anakin doesn't know what to say to that. "You – you're telling us humans were engineered," he says. "To be slaves."
"Yep," Miles says and leans his chin on his knuckles. "That's ancient history, though. We had a war for independence some ninety thousand years ago, and then we had the First Solar Flare which fucked everything up, and ultimately killed the last of the Precursors. Leaving us with," he spins the staff. "Their toys and genetic inheritance of fucking around with slavery."
The man's quiet for a moment while they digest this unbelievable bit of information. "None of which really matters now, I suppose," Miles muses. "Ten thousand years, and humanity is still fucking up. Now, with friends," he nods to Plo Koon. "The more the merrier, I guess."
Anakin opens his mouth and then closes it. Obi-Wan is the one to comment first. "Can you… prove any of this?" he asks quietly.
Miles snorts. "Hell if I know," he says. "Judging from what I've seen and heard so far, it's not the kind of illustrious background you people hoped for human species."
No, no it's not. The core human worlds would have rancors if anyone ever suggested that the Human Species, the Most Populous Of The Galaxy, was a genetically engineered slave race. Hell, Anakin had been a slave and known that side of reality, he still kind of feels this stuff rub against the hair of some form of racial pride he didn't realise he had and now wants to get rid of as soon as possible.
"If it's the truth, and I suspect it is," Obi-Wan muses. "It will change much of known history. But I'm afraid Anakin is right, Desmond: while not completely beside the point after all, it is still rather removed from the heart of the subject. Your devices, whether created by you or your Precursors, they… they are an issue. Especially so if their main use is mind control."
Miles blinks at him and stops spinning the staff. "You're worried they will unbalance this war you have with Sith – which is what I am in this conflict, right?" he asks.
"You are not a Sith," Obi-Wan says with a rueful laugh.
Miles smiles wryly at that and looks down, at the staff. The staff, which supposedly can do mass indoctrination. Held by a guy who has lived for ten thousand years… who saw the last days of humanity on Earth...
"You're the Dark Lord from the tablet, aren't you?" Anakin asks with sudden clarity. "You enslaved humanity."
Obi-Wan and Master Koon both glance at him, Obi-Wan frowning. But very tellingly, Miles doesn't deny it, he just shakes his head wryly and looks away. Anakin scoffs. "No empathy like that of the guilty, huh?" he asks. "You accuse us of slavery while you did the same thing. Didn't you?"
"Yeah," Miles agrees and grips the staff tighter with a sigh. "Takes one to know one, and all that."
A shiver runs up Anakin's spine at that, and beside him, Obi-Wan sits slightly straighter in alarm. Master Koon doesn't move, but even he becomes more alert, watching Miles warily now. The man still seems so calm, almost bored, and after a moment he releases the staff again, turning it idly in his fingers.
"Can I see the text, the one that talks about me?" Miles asks then.
"So that you can see how you can put a sympathetic twist to it?" Anakin demands.
Miles gives him a look. "I'd like to see what they remembered of it, afterwards," he says. "Also you seem to have managed to justify slavery to yourselves. Am I not allowed self delusion like you?" he asks wryly and casts a look at Obi-Wan. "It's such a nice thing to say to yourself, isn't it? The Greater Good. Justifies everything."
"There is no justification for slavery," Anakin growls.
"And yet yours is Republic Senate ordered it and Jedi serve the Republic," Miles points out. "We're just following orders, there's nothing we can do. Nice."
"And what is yours, then?"
"Human race is going to go extinct," Miles says and snorts. "It's for the greater good. In that sense, I'm practically Potteresque, as Dark Lords go. Not saying that it makes it good, but… ends and means and all that."
The hell is that supposed to mean? Anakin shakes his head and then looks up as the door to the meeting room whooshes open and Ahsoka steps in, carrying in her hands an electromagnetic sensor. The whole room seems to grow a little bit quieter and tenser at the sight of her.
"… Found one," Ahsoka says while waving the sensor and looking between them, at Obi-Wan who is on edge, at Master Koon who doesn't look away from Miles and at Anakin whose fingers are itching for a lightsaber. "… but I'm thinking it's not needed anymore."
Miles arches his brows at them and says nothing, his hand still on the staff. "Yeah, I don't think I'm going to be demonstrating more powers for study," he says.
"Well I don't think we can let you keep that thing," Anakin says in answer, eying the staff.
"And I don't think I am going to hand it over peacefully," is Miles' rebuttal. "You've already got the whole…" he glances at Ahsoka and almost visibly minces his words, "Thing happening and you don't even have mind control powers. I don't think you need more tools to keep up the practice."
Anakin exchanges looks with Obi-Wan, who clears his throat, a little awkward. No mind control powers, indeed. Anakin frowns at Miles – the man doesn't need to know. "Are you seriously trying to say you got the moral high ground here?" he demands.
"No," Miles hums, his expression flat as he looks between them. "Not that this is a race I actually want to get into, but with genetical engineering, the training and chips in their heads… I think you people actually have a head start on me."
Anakin blinks. "What chips?"
"The chips in the heads of your lovely clone troopers," Miles says coolly and motions at his own head. "Even if it's made to look all organic, a microchip hardwired into all the important decision making parts of the brain is kind of hard to miss."
Anakin shares a look with Obi-Wan, confused. He's never heard of it – judging by the looks of it, neither has Obi-Wan. He's not giving anything away outwardly but his Force presence becomes puzzled, even worried.
Miles looks between them and then taps his staff onto the floor once. In an instant Anakin is on his feet and holding a lit lightsaber, but what is produced by the staff isn't force – just light. A hologram is lit above the meeting room table, golden and shimmering – a perfect rendition of a human brain. As Obi-Wan and Master Koon stand up also, the hologram zooms into the curls of the brain and there, with tendrils running into the surrounding brain tissue, is a lump. It's irregular in shape, elongated – it looks almost like an organ or a tumour, but as Miles zooms in further, they see the wiring… and the circuitry.
Ahsoka looks between them and then at the hologram. "That's in the clones?"
"Mm-hm," Miles answers. "Shroud of Eden analyses the body down to molecular level, reading everything from DNA upwards. Every single one I healed had it – Ventress didn't have it, though, so I assume it's a clone special."
"It – it could be part of the cloning process," Obi-Wan says, though dubiously, playing the devil's advocate against his better judgement. "The clones are grown rapidly, it might have side effects on brain function – it might be some sort of stabiliser."
Miles just looks at him for a moment and then shakes his head. "Considering the placement… I don't think so," he says and looks between them. "I take it you didn't know about this?"
No one answers – but it's pretty damn obvious they didn't.
"Future is starting to look better and better," Miles muses. "My brotherhood has gone to shit and people with ideology of Templars are in charge of the galaxy. Great fun. Can I go back to sleep now?"
"You're not going anywhere," Anakin says harshly. "You – "
"General Skywalker," his com sounds, foregoing the usual warning sound – instant warning that it's important. "Three Separatist warships just jumped out of hyperspace, sir – one of them is the Malevolence."
Kriffin of course. Anakin smothers the urge to check a chrono – considering how the last few days have gone, they're later than he expected. "Looks like we have to put this on hold. Battle stations, Admiral – and make sure someone checks on Ventress, right now, and make sure her guards are still there," he says to the com and glances at Miles and Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan sighs and nods and folds his arms. "I'll be on the bridge shortly. Ahsoka, with me."
"But – "
"With me," Anakin says sharply. Even with Obi-Wan there, he is not leaving his Padawan in the presence of a Dark Lord, Sith or otherwise.
"Well, it sounds like I should head back to my own warship," Master Koon agrees, giving Miles a thoughtful look. "I suppose we will continue this later."
"War always puts ethical issues on hold, doesn't it," Miles comments wryly.
"I think we all need a moment to think things through," Master Koon says calmly. "These are heavy subjects. They require meditation."
"Sure," Miles agrees and looks to Obi-Wan. "It's going to be just you and me again, huh? Aren't you getting bored of me yet, Obi-Wan?"
"Never in my life. I don't suppose you would be kind enough to surrender your devices and go to a holding cell?" Obi-Wan asks wryly. "As a precaution?"
"… no, not really."
"Then it's indeed going to be just you and me again, Desmond."
Anakin scoffs and turns to leave, Master Koon already heading out ahead of him and Ashoka. Take him to closed quarters, he says to Obi-Wan silently. Somewhere where you can lock him behind blast doors.
And lock myself up with him, how delightful. Obi-Wan hums and holds out his hand to Miles. "A meeting room seems a little grandiose for just the two of us, however – would you like to join me in my quarters?"
Miles arches his brows and then smiles. "Getting some mixed signals here," he comments even while taking the man's hand.
"Something of a speciality of mine, I've been told," Obi-Wan agrees without hint of shame.
Anakin shakes his head, rubbing his gloved fingers over his forehead. He's getting a headache, and now there's not just Ventress on board to be worried about, and Miles, whatever he is, Sith Lord or just Ancient Dark Lord who took over a planet or what… but now they have Grievous on their doorsteps.
"I don't suppose your fleet might be on the way, Master Koon?" he asks the Jedi Master. "I think we might need backup soon."
"If this world is what Miles claims it is, these are only the opening moves of a long campaign," Master Koon comments. "The Homeworld of Humanity… Even without potential of Force controlling artefacts and whatever Desmond Miles presents, this is going to be a heavily contested region of space as soon as word spreads out."
Ahsoka looks between them nervously. "Should we keep it a secret, then?"
Anakin sighs. "I doubt we can, Little One. Keeping secrets like this tends to blow up in people's faces. And I think it might be illegal to tamper with knowledge concerning Legacy Worlds."
"If nothing else, getting backing for this particular conflict shouldn't be difficult," Master Koon says and looks at him. "What are you going to do about Desmond Miles?"
"I have no idea," Anakin mutters and runs a hand over his face. "Kind of hard to judge a man for crimes that are ten thousand years in the past, committed against people who are long dead. And it's not like he's wrong precisely." He'd going to have to check on the chips, though. That's… yeah, he's going to have to check that stuff out, himself. After the battle, when lives weren't on the line.
Koon doesn't say anything for a moment – he can't, really. Just by agreeing with Miles even for a moment Anakin, is kind of toeing the line of legality, further agreement would start moving the discussion to the direction of treason. "Do you think he will remain compliant?" Master Koon wonders then, noncommittal.
Anakin shakes his head. "I have no idea, but if anyone can keep him that way, it's Obi-Wan."
"Master Kenobi has a way with the Sith," Koon agrees wryly and Ahsoka giggles a little.
Anakin snorts in agreement, looking ahead as they arrive to a bank of elevators. "I don't think Miles has fully chosen his side yet," he says. "He is still gathering information, prodding and poking to see what gives. However, if the Separatists manage to present him a better option to…" to whatever the Republic represents, though what that is right now to Miles, Anakin isn't so sure. They've kind of been condensed to slavers at this point. Not exactly comfortable position to find one's self in.
"Quite," Master Koon agrees to the unfinished thought. "I think you will do more harm than good, restricting his access to information at this point. The Republic has done more than this war - he should see there's more to this, than what's present here."
Anakin nods in agreement – though sometimes it's hard to remember what the republic actually has done, other than build up to the war. Seems like his whole career as a Jedi had been a slow build up to the Clone Wars. "I will pass on that suggestion to Obi-Wan, though I trust his judgement best when it comes to things like these," Anakin admits.
"As do I," Master Koon agrees warmly, and just then, the ship is rocked with an obvious impact against it's shields. "And now it is time I hurry. May the Force be with you, Knight Skywalker, young Ahsoka."
"And you as well, Master Koon." Anakin answers, bowing together with Ahsoka. "Good luck out there."
Koon nods and takes one elevator, one that would take him to the hangar bay. Anakin and Ahsoka take another, headed up to the command deck.
"So?" Ahsoka asks. "It sounded like you were taking all sorts of heavy stuff while I was gone, Skyguy. What happened?"
Anakin shakes his head. "Ask me after we make through this battle," he says. "If we're still alive, I'll conduct you to the business of really difficult moral and ethical issues which make me wish I was still Obi-Wan's padawan and could just let him handle while I skipped off to play with droids."
Ahsoka arches her brows. "That good, huh?"
"Yeah," Anakin sighs. "Enjoy the simplicity of youth for as long as you can, Snips. Enjoy it, for me."
Of course, by the time they make it to the bridge, Asajj Ventress has escaped from her cell. Of course she has.