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We are being deployed to Umbara. Apparently, after the murder of Umbaran Senator on Coruscant, the planet seceded from the Republic. I don’t really care about politics, it’s not my concern. All I have to do is serve the Republic as its trooper, fighting for it. And, if necessary, die for it. Like a good soldier would.
*****
"There's a lot of surface fire" Captain Rex warns us. "They ain't for nothin' we can't handle, Sir." Hardcase replies, Captain’s next words die down in the loud explosion nearby. I peek out through partially opened hatch and see different LAATi gunship falling, its engines on fire. Our gunship shakes violently, too. Tup looks at me, visibly frightened, as he grips the handhold with both hands. "You hangin' in there, Tup?" Captain asks him. Tup’s whole body’s stiff, but he doesn’t show fear in his voice. "So far, so good, Captain." Tup replies. He really sounds like he’s fine, for someone who doesn’t know him as well as I do. Suddenly, General Skywalker’s comm beeps.
"General Skywalker, I'm turning the lights out. Our night vision sensors are having a tough time in this chop. I hope we don't overshoot the landing site." The pilot informs us from the cockpit and the lights go out few seconds later.
"Just get us a close as you can, Hawk." Skywalker commands. Whole air is filled with blaster bolts and almost aflame from all those exploding ships and cannons.
"Time to lock and load." Hardcase says, nearly vibrating out of his armour from anticipation. I’m much more restrained in my reaction, clone trooper shouldn’t act so loudly and nearly dismissively towards threat. One of recon troopers gets on his walker, which gets ejected from the LAATi moments later. Soon, the gunship lands and they begin to disembark. "Go, go, go, go, go, go!" Someone yells, already shooting at the enemy. "Take 'em out! Take 'em all...ah!" A clone screams, when the blot hits him. It’s pure chaos, even though I’ve been in battles before, I can’t really comprehend what’s happening. None of the battles I’ve been in has been like that. Though, it’s my third one, so I’m not really experienced.
"Incoming!" One of the troopers yells, a missile lands a few meters away from me, limp troopers fly in every direction. The medics are doing everything they can to haul the wounded to safety, but it’s hard. They’re slowly climbing up the ridge to get the high ground over Umbarans."Don't stray too far. The enemy could have the whole place rigged with traps." General Skywalker warns, while deflecting Umbaran blaster fire with his lightsaber, green plasma harmlessly ricocheting off the blue blade. It looks stunning, but I can’t afford any distractions. "I can't even see the enemy." Tup grumbles, waving his gun. I snort, and open my mouth to say something, but I’m interrupted. "That's why they're called the Shadow People, Tup." Jesse says with a good-meant laugh.
After we force Umbarans to retreat, we put up a camp. I approach General Skywalker and Captain Rex to report to them. "All platoons have reported in, General."I say, snapping to attention, as a good soldier should do. The next thing the General does confuses me. He smiles warmly at me, before nodding. "Get some rest." General Skywalker says, but I-I still can help, set up a camp or take first shift or two!
"Thank you, Sir. I’m fine." I reply, straightening my spine even further. "The General’s giving you an order, Dogma." Captain Rex says, and I blink couple of times. Did I just denied following an order, coming from a Jedi General? "Of course, Sir." I’m quick to reply, trying not to panic, snapping to a sharp salute before turning on my heel and striding back to when I now Tup is. "He’s wound tight, but he’s loyal." I hear Rex’s voice, followed by General’s chuckle.
*****
A new General has arrived and took control over 501st. Apparently, General Skywalker has been called to Coruscant, and General Krell was the closest replacement. I don’t bother think about reasons, just…march the road through the fog and darkness of Umbara, brothers around me. Tup never stays far away, I see him on my left, if we both outstretched our hands, we could hold them. Well, for obvious reasons, we don’t.
"So why aren’t we sticking to the original plan and probing the city defences first?" Tup asks, and I spare a glance at him. I too am surprised by the change of strategy, but I’m just…adapting, rolling with it, as Puncher would probably say. "We can do this. Let’s take ‘em!" Hardcase exclaims, and I snort quietly. Yeah, Hardcase is very enthusiastic about fighting, and his loud way of being doesn’t even bother me. After all, it’s him who tried to comfort me when Tup was injured.
"Yeah, leave it to Hardcase to dive in head-first." Jesse laughs, and Hardcase whoops excitedly. "The General’s new plan is reckless." ARC Trooper Fives scoffs at Captain Rex, who turns around to him. "You ever think that maybe the General knows what he is doing?" I step in, after all, we clones shouldn’t think or talk poorly about our superiors, especially Jedi Generals. That type of words could get us court-martialed or sent back to Kamino.
"I know you think this is a bad idea." Fives tells Rex, his voice getting louder with each word. "I raised my objection to General Krell’s plan but he didn’t agree. So this is it." Rex sighs. At least one brothers apart from me agrees with the General, or doesn’t question his orders. I hear them arguing, and I instinctively bristle when I hear what Fives is saying.
"Dogma. Hey, vod, you okay?" Tup asks, shifting closer to me. "I’m fine, Tup. Just…I don’t understand why you…why some of the vod’e act like that. Like the General was wrong." I whisper. I hope Tup doesn’t notice the slip-up, that I called his actions wrong, or even traitorous.
***** "Alright, listen up. We’ll assemble the squads into two divisions. We’ll move straight up this gorge towards the airbase at the far side." Rex updates us, standing on a slightly elevated ridge so all of us can hear him. As soon as he finishes, the protests rise among the clones. "The casualties are going to be high." Kix, our CMO, says. "Is Krell trying to get us killed?" Tup yells angrily and I frown. Why even Tup can’t see that the General is right? "You know, I wasn’t sure that Krell was crazy before, but now I’m positive." Jesse complains. "We had to retreat from the capital because the General pushed a flawed strategy. Now this?" Fives adds, and all vod’e get more and more agitated. "I don’t know. Could be fun." Hardcase shrugs, at least he isn’t questioning the orders as much as the others. "Well, I for one agree with the General’s plan. We’re running out of time, and this is the best option." I say, earning more than a few odd stares.
"No recon? No air support? We don’t know what we’re up against. They have weapons we’ve never seen before." Jesse scoffs at me, and I glance at Tup, who look away from me. It does send a pang through my heart, but I know better than to show it. "A few of General Skywalker’s plans seemed reckless too, but they worked." Captain Rex argues and my head shoots up to him. "Yeah, but General Skywalker is usually leading his men up in the front, not bringing up the rear like General Krell. A full-forward assault would leave us too exposed." Fives grumbles, provoking concerned and angry chattering among clones. "We have to look at other options."
"It’s going to be a meat grinder down there." Some of them mutter. I stay silent, none of them will listen to me anyway, they probably think something’s wrong with me. "Fives." Rex says, motioning the ARC to follow and he walks away with Fives, certainly to talk privately.
*****
When we finally have the airbase under control, I, Tup, Hardcase, and few other vod’e go to the hangar to talk about last few engagements. Or, they go. I just tag along because of Tup.
It doesn’t take long before Captain Rex joins us after conversation with the General. He tells us the plan for attack, causing a few yelps of confusion and disbelief at the plan. "Those missiles have a 100-megaton yield. We won’t even make it to the delta." Fives is the first one to actually voice his opinion, voice angry.
"What can I do? I’ve tried to reason with him. Those are the orders." Rex says with the air of resignation. "Great, another suicide mission. The capital is too well-armed." Jesse rolls his eyes, not even looking up from the console he’s working on. "Why does it seem like he has it out for clones?" Tup grumbles, eyes fixed on me. I flinch, which is unusual. Tup…Tup never makes me feel uncomfortable like that. "I think you’re all overreacting. Obviously, General Krell knows what he’s doing. Do you really think he doesn’t care if he loses men?" I argue, trying to focus on anything but Tup’s stare, filled with disappointment over me.
"I’m not saying that, but I do think his desire for victory has blinded him to the fact that there are lives at stake. I’ve never seen a General with these kinds of casualties." Jesse replies, though I know better. He does mean it, but he won’t admit while I’m here. He always hated me, even if he tried to hide it.
"He’s out of control. He is not acting like the other Jedi. He has no respect for us." Fives yells, and I almost can’t hear my comm beeping because of him. I see a notification popping up on my datapad, it’s General Krell, calling me to the tower. I get up, I have to get there as fast as possible. Maybe he will see my value, how good soldier I am. "Listen, I don’t agree with him either, but I don’t have a better plan." I hear Captain Rex saying, before I leave the hangar.
*****
The new General that replaced General Skywalker, is strange. I see it too, but maybe all Jedi are actually like that. Technically, I’ve seen General Skywalker only once or twice, so I don’t have any experience with the Jedi. But since Krell is the General, and I am a good soldier, I will know my place and follow his orders. After all, we managed to take the Umbaran airbase thanks to his strategy, and the mission he gave to Hardcase and Fives.
"CT-6922, I’ve a task for you." General Krell says, his lower arms clasped behind his back. "Yes, Sir!" I say, snapping to attention, back rigid straight, as always when talk to my superior officers. "Some of the clones seem to…question my command. And I will not tolerate it. Find out who those clones are, and make sure they are brought to me. That is all. You’re dismissed, CT-6922." The General says. I frown. Why would I betray my brothers…yes, if they’ll disobey orders, I will do something about it, but…if they’ll disobey don’t, I will not do something like that.
I feel something pressing on my mind. It’s painful, and I fall to my knees, clutching my head and ripping the helmet off. The pressure on my mind only increases, and Krell turns around, eyes fixed on me. I yelp in pain, arching my back. You will follow my orders, clone. A voice in my head says.
Yes, Sir. Just give me the order. My mind replies. I can’t fight the pressure any longer, but as soon as I yield, it ceases. Or, at least decreases. It still remains, but it’s bearable now, white noise still shrieks in my ears as I get up, once again shifting my position to attention.
"Yes, Sir. It will be done, General." I salute him, turning away. Every part of my mind that remains conscious and myself, screams that it’s wrong, but the body doesn’t listen. The rest of the mind ignores me too. There’s only the order. Find the traitorous clones and bring them to General. Or execute them.
I leave the command center, heading straight to the barracks, I need to be fresh before tomorrow, so I continue being a good soldier. The barracks door swooshes open as I enter. Immediately, I notice Jesse, Hardcase and Fives, looking suspiciously, like they are plotting something. What’s worse, Captain is there too, and Tup, and they all seem to be talking about the same thing.
"Here comes Dogma." I hear Jesse clearing his throat conspicuously. Immediately, everyone stop talking, pretending to be busy with cleaning their blasters, or jaunt staring at the wall. It sends a quick pang through my heart, but most of me doesn’t care, while I normally would. "Uh, what’s going on?" I ask accusingly, no one in particular. But they seem to bristle at my question. They are definitely hiding something from me. Traitors! My mind supplies, but for now, I ignore it. Besides, it can’t be Tup.
"Eh, nothing." Tup answers, shifting uneasily on his bunk. I stifle a gasp, Tup, even Tup seems to be turning away from me. But while it hurts, I’ll just focus on serving the Republic better. Right now, I don’t have energy to argue anyway. My headache is killing me, too. I still try to fight the strange sensation, the pressure on my brain that tries to take control. It painful, sending new spikes of pain through my head, so I climb up one of the bunks, close to Tup’s and lay down, closing my eyes, waiting for usual nightmares to come, hoping that the pressure will be gone the next morning.
*****
I wake up, startled by something. I still feel sleepy, but at least the pressure in my head faded a little, I can think and act on my own again. I look around, and the grogginess form sleep fades immediately after I see three empty bunks. Fives’s, Jesse’s and…Hardcase’s. My ori’vod’s gone, too. I sit up, turning to Tup. "Tup! Hey, Tup! Wake up!" I whisper, and Tup opens his eyes, annoyance flashes across his face.
"Ugh. What? I’m trying to sleep." Tup grumbles, attempting to go back to sleep. "Where are they?" I ask, a sinking feeling in my stomach. What if Tup’s involved? What if…they pulled him into their scheme? And why Hardcase? Why my ori’vod? "Who?" Tup replies sleepily, but he can’t fool me. I’ve known him for too long for that. "You know. Don’t tell me they’re going to disobey orders." I say, really hoping that they’ve just went for a short walk, or were given a shift I don’t know about. "Well, I didn’t say that." Tup says, and I quietly jump off my bunk, approaching Tup’s. "You know, we have to tell the General." I tell him, hoping that he’ll listen. He has to listen, I can’t lose him too!
"No. N-n-no, you can’t!" Tup panics, shaking his head, his bun threatening to come loose. "We have to tell him. If we know what they’re up to and we keep our mouths shut, then we’ll be complicit in their insubordination. Do you really want to be court-martialed?" I plead, desperate to save him. If they, including my former ori’vod, chose to do something against their orders, they have only themselves to blame. But I won’t let Tup suffer the consequences too.
Tup sighs and gets up too. "No, Dogm’ika. I-I don’t. I’ll…I’ll go with you, brother. As a support." He grumbles, and we go to get our armours. I suppress a smile at Tup’s decision, though my stomach rolls unpleasantly and I have to fight off sudden wave of nausea as I’m locking my armour pieces in place. "Thank you, Tup." I say simply, seeing that he, as well as I, is ready to go.
It is not long before we are walking towards the tower, to General Krell. I straighten my back a little, always trying to put on my good soldier face. I see three starfighters taking off and flying into the atmosphere. Traitors! My brain yells at me, and how can I not agree with it? Those are my thoughts, after all.
Then, Captain Rex emerges from behind a crate and walks towards us. "Hey, where are you two going?" He asks, and I flinch involuntarily. What is the Captain doing here? I ignore the question, despite the uneasiness of ignoring a commanding officer. "I asked you a question, troopers." He repeats, and we both stop. "We are going to speak with the General, Sir."
I reply hesitantly, from the corner of my eye I see Tup shying away from Captain’s gaze. "Regarding what?" The Captain pushes, stepping closer to us. I manage to not back away from him, and keep my face straight. "A personal matter." I reply, hoping that he’ll finally let us pass, so we can fulfill our duty. "Why don’t you tell me? And I’ll report it to the General." He says, he’s clearly covering for traitors! So I can’t tell him, he will never pass it to the General, maybe even court-martial us. "On second thought, Sir, it’s not important." I back down, looking away and both me and Tup turn around. "Yeah, that’s what I thought." I hear Captain Rex saying as we slowly walk back to the barracks.
"I told you Dogma, it wasn’t a good idea!" Tup argues on the way back, but I remain silent. When we enter the barracks, I don’t feel like sleeping anymore. I press my hand against my forehead, the headache comes back and I wince. "Dogma, is everything okay?" Tup asks, concerned. I nod weakly. "Yeah, Tup. I’m fine." I lie, and judging by Tup’s expression, he knows that it was a lie. "If you say so. But if anything changes, I’m here, Dogm’ika." Tup says, pulling me into keldabe. The loud sound of ship’s engines startle us, and Tup runs out. I stay behind, attempting to shake off the headache.
After a moment of silence in darkness of empty barracks, my comm starts beeping. Hesitantly, I answer. CT-6922, you are ordered to come to the tower, effective immediately." Krell says through it. I wince minutely, before steadying myself. "Yes, Sir." I reply, containing slight shaking in my voice, before starting to walk to the tower.
*****
"CT-6922, you seem to be…eager for justice, unlike any other clones in your battalion." General Krell says. I’m standing at rigid attention, despite General standing with his back turned on me. "Yes Sir. Thank you, Sir." I reply automatically, my heart pounding. The General turns to me, eyes fixed on my straight frame. He hums thoughtfully, before stepping closer and I have to fight myself to stand still, not show weakness by stepping back.
"Your Captain seems to hold the traitors in high regard, despite their actions. I am afraid that his judgment may be clouded. But yours, yours is clear." Krell says and my eyes widen a little. He really seems to appreciate me… "You seem ready to take even the harshest actions, CT-6922. That’s why you are tasked with carrying out the traitors’ execution." He says and I freeze. "What? B-but, Sir…I’m sure that a court-martial would be enough…" My voice cracks, and I feel dizzy. I’ve just interrupted, worse, disagreed with the order of my General.
"Are you incapable of doing that, CT-6922?" He asks, and clenches his fist tightly. I want to answer him, but suddenly I can’t talk. I can’t even breathe I start to choke, my lungs burn, as my throat tightens. Despite there being few meters between us, the General seem to be effortlessly holding me in place. I-I want to claw at my throat, to at least loosen the choking, invisible hold on it, but I can’t even move. "You will follow this order, so I make myself clear, CT-6922?!" The General yells, and lets go of me. I crumple to the floor, coughing, my chest heaves as I draw air into my hurting lungs. "Y-yes, Sir." I choke out, standing up, back to attention stance, as I should be when around any of my commanding officers.
"Good. But still, let’s make sure you will obey, shall we?" He says with a menacing smile, but I stand still. He’s the General, he can do to me anything he wants. If he chooses to kill me, I won’t try to dodge.
The General raises his large hand over my face and I bite back a scream. I feel my body twitching, and my head feels like it’s about to split in two. Fortunately, he stops quickly, headache smaller now that I’m not trying to fight it. It actually feels good, having one clear order, not having to think of how to move, my body simply moving forward.
*****
It feels strange. The tightness in my chest, the fog over my brain. I don’t want that presence in my head, suppressing real me, but if I try to fight, it’ll only make things worse. Before, my vision doubled, and I nearly threw up, something I can’t afford. And I see everything around me, still through my eyes, though it feels like I’m in someone else’s body. I stand tall, row of six clones holding rifles in front of me. More clones leading the traitors to the wall. Captain Rex stands to the side, eyes filled with grief I don’t understand. The traitors must be punished. And if he doesn’t understand, perhaps he should stand there with them.
"Line up the prisoners!" I order, the moment everyone here will see how good soldier I am has come. I see CT-5597’s lips moving, he’s saying something to ARC-5555 as the clones line them up by the hangar’s wall.
"Will the prisoners request to be blindfolded?" I ask. It’s more a formality, but the protocols must be followed to the letter. ARC-5555 just straightens himself, CT-5597 follows suit, defiance radiating off traitorous clones.
"I’ll take that, as a no." I say, before stepping out of the line of fire. "I hope you can live with yourself, Dogma." ARC-5555 scoffs at me. I won’t! I can’t! I-I’m sorry! I want to scream, but the pressure increases, pushing the scream down, and I feel my face going blank. From the line of executioners, I hear whimper. I look there, Tup is one of them, and he looks like he’s about to cry. The part of me in control ignores him.
"Ready weapons!" I shout and watch six clones snapping into position, guns prepared to fire. CT-5597 seems to say something again, because ARC-5555 sighs in resignation. "Aim!" Just as my mouth is about to yell order to fire, ARC-55…no, Fives, tugs at his binders, arms secured behind his back.
"Wait! This is wrong! And we all know it! The General is making a mistake, and he needs to be called on it! No clone should have to go out this way!" He shouts, and I feel my stomach rolling. I don’t really want to do this, but I’m unable to resist the order.
"We are loyal soldiers, we follow orders, but we are not a bunch of unthinking droids! We are men, we must be trusted to make the right decisions, especially when the orders we are given are wrong!" Fives continues, his chest heaving. "Fire!" The word comes out of my mouth before I can stop it.
All shots are missed, smoking holes far above the to-be-executed clones’ heads. "What…what happened?" I gasp. Internally, I’m relieved, but that part of me is not in control. The clones, including Tup, drop their blasters, they clatter loudly on the ground. "They’re doing the right thing, Dogma. Because if this is how soldiers are rewarded for heroic actions, then one day, every man in this battalion may face a similar fate. Take off their binders." Captain Rex says, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"No, we have orders! We have to go through with this!" I yell frantically, spinning around, trying to find someone that’ll agree with me. "Good luck finding anyone to do it." The Captain spits out, disregard seeping from his voice.
*****
"Stay alert. The enemy has our weapons and our armor. They may try to trick us with an ambush" Captain Rex warns us, while we carefully go through thick, swirling, purplish-fog. "Roger that, Sir." I confirm. We walk for what seems like seconds and hours at the same time, when blaster fire erupts. "We're under attack!" One of the clones yells over comms. "Where's the enemy?" Another one cries out, spinning around. "I don't know. I can't see anything." Tup yells back, eyes darting through the heavy fog, he sounds like he’s about to have a panic attack. "Anyone have a visual?" Captain Rex’s steady voice breaks through the battle chaos. "Ah, negative. It's too dark. Wait, I see them! They're disguised as clones, all right." Kix announces, and I see him, using his enhanced visor to scan the surroundings. <0> My stomach rolls when I hear all those gasps and screams of pain, both at my sides, and further, among the enemy, seeing clones fall like knocked-over dominoes. Across the field, through the fog, I can see a 212th Trooper’s armour, a Lieutenant, if I’m not mistaken. I managed to get a clear shot on him, and the Umbaran wearing his armour collapses to the ground, blood-chilling scream audible even despite the distance between us, and the chaos around. "Captain, where are you? We're sustaining heavy casualties" I hear Kix screaming over comms. I, as well as everyone, wait for Rex’s answer, but he remains quiet. Was he killed? Only after a moment, the Captain replies, in desperate yells.
"Everyone, stop firing! We're shooting at our own men!" I look at Tup, confused and see Captain abandon his cover, running through the field, waving his hands frantically, and he keeps shouting to us.
"They’re not Umbarans. They’re clones! Take off your helmets! Show them you’re not the enemy!” The Captain calls out, yanking his helmet off, throwing it to the side. I…I don’t understand what I’m seeing.
"They’re clones!"
"Everyone, stop firing. Cease fire. They’re not Umbarans. They’re clones." Captain Rex launches himself at one of the Umbarans wearing 212th armour and pulls him close, arm wrapped around his throat. He pulls off the man’s helmet, revealing…the face of a vod, the one each of them saw every day, looking in the mirror. "Look. We’re clones. We’re all clones!" Captain Rex calls once again, before letting go of a brother who limply fall to the ground. Rex sinks to his knees, clutching at his head, terror in his eyes. Both 501st and 212th men abandon their positions and march to face the other battalion. They all remove their helmet, and none of the faces belongs to Umbarans. And every single one shows pure terror. "This can't be happening. What have we done?" Tup says in disbelief when both battalions gather their wounded to help them. "I don't understand. Why did these troopers attack us?" I whisper, to no one in particular. I feel like I’m about to throw up.
*****
Next thing I know, is that I’m sitting on the ground, my body trembling. My thoughts are spinning wildly, bile rising in my throat. I gag on it and collapse to the ground. "Hey, Dogma...get up brother. Captain has something to tell us." I hear Tup’s voice above me, and take his outstretched hand, shakily standing up. Tup leads me to all that remains from Torrent Company and 212th, Ghost Company, if I’m not mistaken. My heart clenches when I see how few are still alive and not wounded. Too few. But the good soldier in me ignores the grief, the guilt for shooting them. I followed my orders. We stand in two rows in front of Captain Rex, who strides past us.
"We all know who’s responsible for what happened out there. What we don’t know is why. Something has to be done. What I’m proposing is highly treasonous. If any man chooses to opt out, do it now." Rex says, and I feel terrible wrongness when none of the clones stay back, but step forward, ready to follow the Captain in his treasonous! actions. Well, I step forward too, but only be of Tup.
"From this point forward, we are entering uncharted territory. My orders are, we arrest General Krell for treason against the Republic." Rex continues and I see many clones nodding in grim determination as we start walking back to the airbase. I shake my head. I want to go with them, despite it being against regulations, though technically, Krell is the traitor. But when I think of it, a white-blinding pains shoots up my head, and I wince, once again a prisoner of my own body.
*****
When we reach the base, I slip into the shadows, waiting. If the General runs, they’ll have to go this way, and then, I’ll be able to stop them and help the Jedi. And finally, the moment comes. I see General Krell jumping out of the window, landing hard on the ground and running off to the woods. He doesn’t even notice me, too busy escaping.
Captain Rex, Fives, Jesse, Tup and other clones are running not so far behind, chasing him. I step in their way, raising my blaster. "Hold it right there!” I demand, gun aimed. "Lower your weapon, Dogma." Captain Rex commands, and I hesitate. "I…I can’t do that, sir.” I answer after a moment. "That’s an order!" Rex yells. I flinch, I do want to follow it, but I can’t. "It’s my duty.” I call out in panicked voice, my chest heaving as something in my head snaps. I spin around wildly, but blasters are pointed at me from every direction. Even Tup’s. My twin’s hands aren’t even shaking. "You’re all traitors!" I yelp, hoping that at least one if them would listen. "I used to believe that being a good soldier meant doing everything they told you. That’s how they engineered us. But we’re not droids. We’re not programmed. You have to learn to make your own decisions." Captain Rex sighs, his voice sounds resigned. I whimper, pointing my blaster at Tup, my trigger finger already putting slightly more pressure on it. "Dogma, don’t do it." Tup warns softly, and I hesitate.
Well, I don’t want to shoot Tup, or any clone, so I finally drop my blaster with a sigh, and something heavy collides with me moments after. The air is knocked out of my lungs and I hit the ground hard. A clone holds me tightly, wrenching my arms behind my back. I yelp in pain, and the other clone put binders on my wrists. "Take him to the brig. Troopers, don’t let General Krell escape." Rex orders. The clones haul me to my feet, not too gently, and drag me to the tower.
As the lift descends, I catch hateful, but also curious glances from Umbaran prisoners. The clones throw me into the cell and unclip one of my binders to put my arms in front of me. Small mercies, I guess. The ray shield raises and I curl up on myself in a far corner of the cell, desperate not to let the tears fall.
*****
When the clones return, they are dragging unconscious General Krell behind them and throw him into an empty cell, just next to mine. I shift uneasily, and notice Captain Rex’s gaze on me. I flinch, shying away. Fortunately, as Krell stirs, Captain’s attention is on him. "Why, General? Why kill your own men?" Captain Rex asks the Jedi, who laughs mockingly. "Because I can. Because you fell for it, because you’re inferior." Krell spits out. "But you’re a Jedi. How could you?" Captain asks again, and I frown. He sounds unstable, like he can barely keep his composure.
"A Jedi? I am no longer naive enough to be a Jedi. A new power is rising. I’ve foreseen it. The Jedi are going to lose this war, and the Republic will be ripped apart from the inside. In its place is going to rise a new order, an I will rule as part of it." Krell says, his expression dreamy for few seconds. I shudder, I can’t stand his presence so close. I feel more and more cracks in my mind, as it fights the pressure of Krell’s orders. No one, even Tup, seems to notice it, but it’s okay. I’m used to my pain being unnoticed.
"You’re a Separatist." Rex accuses him, his voice hardening. "I serve no one’s side, only my own. And soon, my new master.” Krell corrects. Despite the situation, he still treat the Captain, all clones, like lower class of beings, if not as meat-droids.
"You’re an agent of Dooku." Rex realises, his eyes widening. "Not yet. But when I get out of here, I will be. After I’ve succeeded in driving the Republic from Umbara, the Count will reward my actions and make me his new apprentice." Krell reveals, proudly. And the dam breaks, freeing me from his control.
"How could you do this? You and my trust, my loyalty. I followed all of your orders, and you made me kill my brothers!" I call out brokenly,, tugging at my binders, whimpering when they cut into my wrist.
"That’s because you were the biggest fool of them all, Dogma. I counted on blind loyalty like yours to make my plan succeed." Krell mocks, and I shrink on myself even more. I trusted him. I nearly killed my ori’vod’e… I barely hear Captain Rex’s next words. I sink to the floor, my body trembles with broken sobs, everything seems to be falling apart.
"That will never happen. You’re a traitor, General, and you will be dealt with as one." Rex vows determinedly. But Krell only laughs again, the sound causes me to curl into even smaller ball, in weak attempts to disappear, or not hear the traitor. Though, if I were to think about it, how different am I? I betrayed the clones, my brothers too, I’m no better than him.
I barely see the Captain, Jesse, Fives and Tup leaving, my twin cast one short pitiful look at me, before the lift takes him up.
*****
Soon after my brothers leave, they come back, faces showing firm resolve. Fives opens my cell, while Captain Rex takes position in front of Krell’s, taking out his DC-17. When Fives enters, I try jerk away from the ARC, but he hauls me to my feet, dragging out from the cell, keeping me upright. Jesse deactivates the ray shield of Krell’s cell.
"Turn around. Step toward the wall." Rex orders, his voice steel-like. "On your knees." The Captain says, and I flinch. I’m going to be next…proper punishment for the traitors. I guess I deserve it, after all I’ve done… I try to hold back tears that threaten to break out. No need to show any more weakness or fear to those that already despise me. Worse: hate me.
"You’re in position of power now. How does it feel?" Krell asks, his voice calm, almost like he doesn’t care for what’s happening. "I said, 'On your knees.'" Captain Rex repeats, pointing his blaster at Krell’s head. The Besalisk huffs in annoyance and obeys.
"It feels good, doesn’t it? But I can sense your fear. You’re shaking, aren’t you? What are you waiting for? The Umbarans are getting closer." Krell mocks Rex, and I look at the Captain. His hand is under shaking, or maybe it’s my body, it’s hard to tell now.
"I have to do this." Rex states, his voice lacking the previous confidence. "You can’t do it, can you?" Krell’s words snap something inside me. In few seconds, I grab Fives’s blaster with my hands, still in binders, and aim at the traitor.
"Eventually, you’ll have to do the right thing and-" Krell starts, but my finger curls in the trigger and I shoot. The blaster bolt whizzes through the air and plunges itself through Krell’s heart. The Besalisk goes down with a single groan. He’s dead before he even hits the ground. Everyone in the room turns to look at me, DC-17 in my hands still smoking.
"I…I had to. He betrayed us." I say, my voice weak, breathing ragged and uneven. Fives takes his DC-17 from my hand and lets go of my shoulders, which he’d been holding. My knees buckle under me and I collapse to the floor, hyperventilating. When a gentle, soft hand tries to touch me, I whimper, trying to jerk away from it.