Palpatine’s grand plan, includingOrder 66, was nearly foiled by the clone trooper Fives inStar Wars: The Clone Warsin an act that was close to saving the entire galaxy. Fives, also known as CT-5555, was a member of theDomino Squadalong with Echo, the latter of whom is now mainly known for his time spent withClone Force 99inStar Wars: The Bad Batch. First introduced inThe Clone Warsseason 1, episode 5 “Rookies,” Fives and Echo were some of the first named clones in theanimatedStar WarsTV show.
Following their efforts at Rishi Moon Outpost, which tragically saw the rest of their original squad terminated, Fives and Echo both becamemembers of Anakin Skywalker’s 501st Legion. The duo also became ARC troopers after their contributions during the Battle ofKamino, though not long after, Echo was thought to have died in an explosion at the Separatist prison named the Citadel, making Fives the last survivor of their squad. Fives became close to many of his brothers, especially Captain Rex, but his most well-known act was uncovering the conspiracy of theclones' inhibitor chips.
How Fives Found Out About The Clones' Inhibitor Chips
He Investigated His Friend’s Strange Behavior
It was Fives' fierce loyalty to his brothers that led him into his investigation surrounding the clones' inhibitor chips. The clone trooper Tup, another member of the 501st that Fives had grown close to, experienced a malfunction with his inhibitor chip that led to him killing Jedi General Tiplar during a mission on Ringo Vinda.Fives, who was the first to get to Tup after he dealt the fatal blaster bolt, remained dedicated to finding out what had caused Tup to commit such a heinous act, especially because Tup had no memory of ever doing it.
Every Clone Who Disobeyed Order 66 In Star Wars Canon & Legends
Star Wars' Clone Troopers were bred for absolute loyalty and secretly created to destroy the Jedi…but not every one obeyed the sinister Order 66.
While it was initially thought to be a virus the Separatists had created and infected Tup with, Fives remained on Kamino with Tup long enough to suspect that something more was happening. Fives observed the chief scientist, Nala Se, petitioning for Tup to be terminated to properly study what was happening with his brain, and he teamed up with the medical droid known as AZI to study Tup without killing him. AZI found a “tumor” in Tup’s brain that he then extracted, and upon further unauthorized investigation with AZI,Fives discovered that it was actually an organic chip.
With more unauthorized investigation, Fives and AZI were able to discover that Tup wasn’t the only one with an organic chip implanted in his head. Rather, the entire Grand Army of the Republic had them, as they were implanted into the clones' brains when they were still embryos. Fives had AZI search for his own chip, and after removing it, they compared it to Tup’s, proving that the latter’s had deteriorated and malfunctioned. Fives was then sent to Coruscant with the chips and Jedi General Shaak Ti to present the information to Chancellor Palpatine.
How Palpatine Ensured Fives' Discovery Was Never Revealed
The Chancellor Set Fives Up
Of course, this decision to send Fives and the chips to Palpatine on Coruscant is what ultimately set Fives' discoveries up to fail. Nala Se drugged Fives on their way to see the chancellor, which caused him to act outside of the norm, andPalpatine dismissed Shaak Ti from the room before pretending that Fives had become aggressive and attacked him. With Fives having been accused of attempting to assassinate the chancellor, he became a fugitive, but he managed to get the 501st medic Kix to help him arrange a meeting with Anakin and Captain Rex on Coruscant.
These events are shown in the first four episodes ofThe Clone Warsseason 6.
After trapping Anakin and Rex within a ray shield, Fives attempted to reveal everything he had learned, but between both his own desperation and the remnants of the drugs Nala Se had injected into him, he had a hard time convincing them of such. The Coruscant Guard, led by Commander Fox, caught up with Fives there, and he was shot in the chest by the commander.Fives then died in Rex’s arms, and the truth about the inhibitor chips died with him. Palpatine already had the Kaminoans working on more excuses for the Jedi as to what had truly happened.
The Clone Wars Season 7 Gave Fives A Legacy
His Discoveries Still Saved Clones (& Jedi)
While Fives wasn’t able to save the galaxy from Palpatine and Order 66, he was still given a legacy inThe Clone Warsseason 7 and beyond. It was revealed in the final season that Rex had documented what Fives had told him about the inhibitor chips, andas his own chip was activating during Order 66, Rex was able to tell Ahsoka Tano to “Find him… Fives.“Ahsoka learned of the inhibitor chips from Rex’s report, and with the help of astromechs on board theirVenator, she was able to remove Rex’s chip - thus saving both of them.
What Happened To The Clones In Star Wars After Order 66?
The clones in Star Wars were manipulated and mistreated by the Empire after the Republic’s dissolution and Order 66. What became of them afterwards?
Because of Fives, not only was Rex freed from the inhibitor chip, but so were other clones later on.Rex was able to inform the clones of what had been done to them, and he was even able to help some of them remove their chips, including Clone Force 99. Though Fives never knew his brother had survived the Citadel, Echo’s chip was ultimately removed because of his brother’s discovery, long after his death. Even if Fives didn’t save the entire galaxy inThe Clone Wars, he did save some of his closest friends - and countless other brothers after them.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Cast
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an animated series that explores the intense conflict between the Republic and the Separatists. Featuring a mix of loyalty shifts and alliances, it delves into complex mysteries of the Force and showcases pivotal moments for characters like Anakin Skywalker and Master Yoda.
