Chapter Text
Time suddenly seemed to be freezing where the four of them stood.
CX-2224, Hemlock and the two clone commandos having accompanied the doctor, the two giving the proverbial middle finger to the orders given, either by choice or due to the glitch in their programming. Making the staring contest lasting even longer than necessary.
“What are you two waiting for?! Blast him! Blast him into oblivion!”
Hemlock’s voice was impossibly high for his usual pitch, the familiar hissing and whispering tone all but gone and instead the not so good doctor screaming at the top of his lungs to his minions. Them though not wanting to step up to the given orders. And so, the standstill ensued.
Thankfully though, the commandos weren’t pulling their blasters against CX-2224. No matter what or how threatening of an order Hemlock tried to make it sound. And his temper tantrum certainly wasn’t helping any either.
“Sitrep?”
CX-2224 felt bold enough to comm CX-9902 despite having Hemlock standing right in front of him. Or perhaps it was just because of that very reason. Wanting to rub it in. The fact that the person in charge had suddenly changed. Because the way the two commandos right beside their commanding officer were standing, not giving the slightest kark to the doctor’s orders, well, CX-2224 had to assume the Patch devised by CX-9902 was working.
“The deployment of the Patch was a success.” CX-9902 responded without delay. “They are all starting to wake up. Realising they have a mind of their own to use again.”
CX-9902 was talking from the inside the storage area housing all the stasis pods for the CX Project’s subjects. The clones having been turned into the assassin clones, the shadows or ghosts whatever the designation just might have been. With the support of CX-4247 the two had managed to work undetected while CX-2224 had run interference. Well, having got caught by Hemlock true. But it was part of the plan. Diverting suspicion away from the other two, for them to be able to work under the radar.
“We are monitoring their progress right now.”
“The Doctor is there as well?”
“Yes, she appeared just as the Patch went on line.”
The Doctor, one Emerie Karr having turned to their side just in the nick of time. Turning, to her own side. The clones’ side. As apparently, a small pep talk from Omega from before had made Emerie finally see the light. Plus the fact that Doctor Karr had observed the three particular CX’s gathering together a few times. Finding the behaviour suspicious and then having gone to talk to them.
With the tooka out of the bag, the three CX clones had managed to convince Emerie to join their efforts. The spark started by Omega coming to fruition.
“Have her monitor the vitals.” CX-2224 gave the order, not that he really needed to. But it felt good to be the one in charge for a change.
As CX-2224 gave the order, the expression on Hemlock was changing rapidly. The Doctor having heard the one side of the conversation, but realising quickly what was going on just the same. His expression turning from a whiny snot nosed control freak imp into a hate and rage filled one. The change not going unnoticed by CX-2224, knowing full well he needed to take control of the situation. ASAP.
“Seize him.” CX-2224 ordered the two commandos, hoping their strange behaviour was the result of the Patch working its magic. But also that the clones all over the base, those having been on the side of the Empire were starting to wake up from their daze and turning back into the clone troopers they had once been.
The commandos did not make a move at first. Simply staring into the distance, acting more like zombies now. That really got CX-2224 worried. Drawing out his own blaster, he targeted Hemlock himself while pinging CX-9902.
“What’s the hold up with the commandos?”
“Sorry about that. It looks like we need much more bandwidth as there are more clones here than what the original manifest indicated. I am transferring everything we got over to the Patch deployed systems now.” CX-9902 sounded like he was quite busy as so many of their brethren were coming back to the real world. The lot of them being disoriented and confused, asking questions if the noise in the background was any indication of the same. “We have our hands full here unfortunately so it took a moment for me to realise this error. What is the commandos status where you are?” Having realised CX-2224 was in the company of some commandos, most likely Hemlock too at this point as per excepted.
“They are behaving, well, oddly. Not really doing anything at the moment.”
“So, you’re not in trouble?”
“Well, I have the good Doctor here staring right into my blaster. So no.” CX-2224 let out a low chuckle.
“We knew he would show up at some point.”
“Indeed.”
“I will boost the systems further. I will ping you once the task is completed.”
“I think I can handle things over here. And as soon as this incident is solved, I will join you.”
CX-2224 could hear the plethora of familiar voices talking in the background more clearly now. The CX clones having woken up from their nightmarish state and most likely questioning their very existence at the very moment. CX-9902, CX-4247 and Doctor Karr certainly had their hands full.
“Good. We need to mobilise them all as soon as this… this confusion blows over.”
CX-2224 closed the connection and turned to Hemlock. The two commandos still unmoving beside him. CX-2224 quickly stepped closer to them and liberated the two commandos of their weapons all the while keeping his eyes and blaster firmly on Hemlock.
“Alright Doctor. Let’s find you a nice, quiet and cozy corner to stay in while we make things right around here.”
There was an inherit satisfaction within CX-2224 as he motioned for Hemlock to start walking. The idea of liberating the clone prisoners and putting Doctor Hemlock in their place in stead came to CX-2224’s mind at that moment.
Poetic justice at its best for sure!