Chapter Nine: The Truth Revealed
“And there was no sign of her being awake during this time?” Rainbow’s eyes opened seeing Obi-wan’s back.
“No sir, though our power was out during that time sir.” Cody answered as her eyes slid up meeting his. He nodded his head as Obi-Wan turned around seeing that she was awake.
“You’re awake.” he said with a smile a rumble echoing around them. “Mind telling me why you were out of bed?”
“I needed some air.” Rainbow answered as she pushed her hair out of her face. “‘Nother nightmare.”
Obi-Wan hummed under his breath as he thought about it.
“I want to speak to him.” Rainbow said and Obi-Wan looked at her in surprise. “I want to know why.”
“I don’t think it would be wise.” Obi-Wan told her and Rainbow’s shoulders sagged. “Especially with the oncoming attack and your injured wing. Listen, you must rest after your injuries are better perhaps then you can go and visit him. And no, there will be guards here to make sure that you don’t sneak out again.”
“It wasn’t my plan the first time.” Rainbow yawned her eyes beginning to shut as Obi-Wan moved away. Behind him stood another man with fair skin, Grey hair and eyes. He was dressed in white and gold. He seemed to study her as she struggled to stay awake. He moved forward as she tried to call out only to find silence. His eyes bored into hers as the eyes went pitch black and she felt like she was drowning.
“Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow’s eyes snapped open as she sat up seeing Anakin standing there. “Everything alright?”
“I… Did you see anyone here when you came in?” Rainbow asked looking around for the man she saw earlier.
“Nope, just you and the other wounded. Come on, Obi-Wan told me you wanted to speak with the spy.” Rainbow raised an eyebrow commenting. “He also wanted to wait until I was healed.”
“Well considering that you were just sleeping on them I’d say you’re just fine.” Anakin pointed out and Rainbow glanced back at her wings. That was when she remembered that she had used them before. She shrugged it off considering that they did have advanced technology. Climbing off the bed Rainbow followed Anakin out of the room. Glancing over her shoulder to confirm no one was there she moved quickly to catch up.
The cells were dimly lit as Anakin led Rainbow Dash to the spy’s cell.
“Does Obi-Wan know you brought me here?” Rainbow asked quietly, glancing at Anakin who looked at her saying. “Kind of, I told him I’d take you here once you were better. He was still unsure about letting you talk to him since this is a Republic situation.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes as Anakin waved his hand towards a cell farther back. “I’ll be here keeping an eye on everything.”
Swallowing Rainbow moved forward peering into the cell. There sat a man with tan skin, dark hair, and dark eyes hidden by the shadows. He looked up, snorting a little and seeing her standing there.
“You pulled some strings I see, how’s the jaw?” The man commented and Rainbow’s tail twitched against the ground. “I know what you are going to say: how could I betray the Republic? My actions would have harmed millions….”
“How about the lines of: YOU NEARLY GOT YOUR BROTHERS KILLED AND ME ALONG WITH THEM!” Rainbow shouted, her fists clenching. The man snorted. “Why would I care about you? You ally yourself with the Jedi, they treat us as slaves. They see us as expendable.”
“No one is expendable. What you did, what you caused, did more harm to your brothers.” Rainbow approached the cell cautiously. The man inside watched her commenting. “You really don’t know, do you? They didn’t tell you anything.”
“Tell me what? What am I supposed to know? You’re soldiers fighting in a war. Big family of soldiers.” Rainbow said looking to the side as she thought about it.
“You haven’t figured it out? Same voice, same armor, same height.” The man moved forward taking advantage of her distracted state and moving close to the bars. “Why do you think there are so many of us?”
Rainbow opened her mouth to speak as the spy watched her shake her head. “What you are doesn’t matter, it is what you do, your actions, that show who you are.”
“That doesn’t seem to matter with them. They think of us as mindless slaves. Blank slates, grunts. We don’t have our own lives, just shipped from one battlefield to the next.” Rainbow paused before her head turned as Anakin called out. “Don’t get too close!”
A hand wrapped around Rainbow’s wrist yanking her forward until her shoulder hit the bars. She felt her wrist twist as it was forced through the gap. Another hand grabbing her other wrist pulling it through as well when Anakin leapt forward quickly.
“Not another move, Jedi.” The spy warmed as Anakin reached for his lightsaber. “You never told her.”
“Let her go Slick.” ordered Anakin and Rainbow felt pressure on her wrist causing her wings to flap hitting the bars.
“I don’t think so. I’m calling the shots here.” Slick retorted as Rainbow’s tail curled around her leg. “Why don’t you tell your friend here what we are?”
“Slick…” Anakin said, keeping his eye on them, his stance tense. “Don’t do this.”
“Tell her Jedi.” Slick growled and Rainbow trembled feeling the grip tightening as he tapped her wrists against the bars. “I’ll break her wrists.”
Anakin seemed to struggle, his teeth clenching before he took a deep breath.
“He can’t even say it.” Rainbow could hear the venom in Slick’s voice. “He can’t admit to you what we are, how expendable we are.”
“She’s got nothing to do with this war Slick, the only reason why she was here to retrieve something from her world.” Anakin explained hearing footsteps as Obi-Wan and a few troopers arrived with him. He held up a hand.
“Why do I find that hard to believe?” Slick mused before slamming Rainbow’s wrist against the bars. “Tell her Jedi!”
“They’re… clones.” Anakin admitted looking away and Slick chuckled as Rainbow Dash tensed. “You see? That’s why we’re expendable to them.”
“I’ve got two questions. One, how does that change what I think of you guys? Two, I’m guessing you aren’t created using a magical pool of water. So you’re not mindless copies. How does that change what you did?” Rainbow asked and Slick frowned before slamming her wrist against the bars hard, a crack resounding through the prison. She screamed, time seemed to slow as she saw the old man again. He was standing behind Anakin watching her with the same cold grey eyes. What felt like electricity rushed through her as he spoke. “Are you really this weak? How disappointing.”
Rainbow’s scream turned angry as red lightning surrounded her, a pulse of energy knocking Slick into a wall. Red cracks crawled up her arms as if her veins were lightning. Anakin moved swiftly forward grabbing her shoulders yelling. “Snap out of it Rainbow!”
Electricity jolted through Anakin’s arms as tears dripped down from her eyes as they slid shut and she collapsed forward. Obi-Wan moved forward quickly as Anakin lowered her to the ground gently.
“What, was that?” Anakin asked, looking at Obi-Wan who looked at him. “I don’t know, but we need to get into contact with the Jedi Council as soon as possible.”
Rainbow’s fingers twitched against the ground as they looked into the cell seeing Slick unconscious.