Report

Yeah…..this is directly after the 'Darkness on Umbara' arc. This deals with the aftermath of that hell, and the troopers healing from the ordeal. There will be more, this is just the first chapter.

First time writing SW: The Clone Wars. Hope I do alright

I own nothing here but the idea.

Rex sighed. The hellish nightmare was over. Krell was gone, and they were soon leaving this planet.

Unfortunately, a report still had to be made to General Kenobi. That was not going to be fun.

"General Kenobi is going to want a report." He said, turning to his brethren. "I want you all to catch some rest."

"And leave you to face General Kenobi alone? I don't think so."

"Fives, General Kenobi is not General Krell."

"I'm coming with you."

"So am I." Jesse interjected determinedly. "We're not leaving you now."

Rex sighed again, knowing he couldn't win this argument. "Fine. Come on." Secretly, he was glad they were coming with him, but he'd never admit that.

The three troopers started towards the tower, where General Kenobi was waiting.

Obi-Wan sighed as he observed the troops from within the tower. Many of them were hurt, and many more were dead. They had been through a lot the past few days. Idly he wondered where Krell was, before spotting Rex and two other troopers (all with helmets off) heading towards the tower.

"General Kenobi." Rex greeted, pushing away the tinge of nervousness he felt.

"Captain Rex. Good to see you, and you Fives. And this is…?"

"Jesse, sir."

"Nice to meet you Jesse." Obi-Wan turned back to Rex. "Rex, where is Master Krell? I have not seen him since I arrived."

The three clones exchanged uneasy looks, making the Jedi frown.

"He, is dead, sir." Rex finally said.

Obi-Wan bowed his head for a moment. "How did he die?"

"Blaster shot, sir."

"The Umbarans, I assume."

"….no, sir. Dogma shot him."

"What?!" Kenobi's head shot up, anger flaring and easily visible in his eyes. Anger which quickly turned to confusion at the instantaneous reaction of the troopers, each stiffening, shifting their weight backwards, hands landing on their guns; Fives going as far as actually pulling out the blaster and aiming it at the Jedi, only lowering it at a hiss from Rex, and even then, only lowering it slightly. Obi-Wan stopped cold as he felt the fear emanating from the clones through the Force. The Jedi made himself take a deep breath before continuing, his voice even and calm.

"What happened, exactly?"

"W-we had to sir!" Jesse burst out. "General Krell was sick and twisted! He almost got all of us killed with his suicidal plans!" His voice rose, anger replacing fear. "He made us kill our own brothers for his own sick amusement!"

"What proof do you have?"

"I have his confession, General." Rex said, pulling out the small recorder he had.

Obi-Wan took the device from Rex and stepped away to watch it, the whole time his heart sinking and horror deepening.

"What do we do?" Fives asked in a low voice, still holding his blaster.

"Nothing." Rex answered, eyes on the general watching the holo-recording.

"Rex-"

"General Kenobi is not General Krell." Rex repeated. Was he trying to convince Fives or himself? Rex gave Fives a look, making the ARC trooper slowly holster his blaster.

The Jedi finished with the recording and came back over to the clones, not missing the stiffness with which they stood, and not missing Fives' hands on his gun, eyes tracking his every move.

"This is….most disturbing news." Obi-Wan looked each trooper in the eye. "I am truly sorry for your loss here. It should not have happened. If I had only known…"

"It wasn't your fault, sir. It was General Krell."

"Tell me the full story, please, starting from when Krell arrived."

So Rex told him everything, from Krell's first deliberately suicidal plan to his treatment of the troopers to the other deliberately suicidal plans and the way he didn't care if the clones died, everything all the way to the horrible fire fight between the 501st and 212th, a fight between misinformed brothers that should have never been, to Waxer's death and the discovery of what Krell had done, them trying to arrest the fallen Jedi, the ensuing battle, capture, confession, and finally, Krell's death at the hands of Dogma.

"This is…" Obi-Wan trailed off, unable to express what he was feeling and thinking. It made horrible sense now, the troopers' behavior. How they'd been nervous around him, how, when he snapped in anger, they'd reached for their guns, fear pouring off them. The Jedi shook his head. "I am truly sorry for the horrors that occurred, all of you. I had no idea…"

"We don't blame you, General Kenobi."

"Nothing excuses what happened here. And you have my word that nothing like this will ever occur again."

The three clones shared looks.

"Thank you, sir."

The troopers left, leaving Obi-Wan to stare out the window mournfully. This was not going to be easy to tell the Council. Or Anakin.