Author's Note: Hello again my faithful, awesome readers! The beginning of this chapter was originally going to be in the last one but I had writer's block and couldn't continue. This one is a little shorter but the next one should be longer!

Chapter 20

Captain Rex cursed when he first received the report that the prisoner that the Jedi entrusted him with had been abducted. The Captain was in the middle of a court-Marshall hearing, dealing with a recent clone deserter when news reached him of the Sergeant's death. The Sergeant had been one of Captain Rex's most trusted men. He was extremely enraged to learn that six of his troopers had gone rogue simply to carry out a revenge scheme, one that Obi-Wan had warned him might happen. He was even more furious to learn that the six traitorous clones had murdered five more brothers in cold blood on their way out of the prison complex.

With the Jedi's approval, they wasted no time in sending out a world-wide broadcast concerning the six traitors and mentioned in the news report that they had a captive with them but never revealed the boy's identity. The sith apprentice was already in enough trouble. The last thing they needed were bounty hunters, assassins, and news reporters targeting the child.

The Captain was pleased however when two of the renegade clones were captured. They put up a fight but ultimately lost in the end and were now imprisoned. They were questioned and interrogated but they refused to provide the coordinates where their fellow brethren had taken their highly-prized prisoner. They were now facing a most serious trial. Captain Rex and his loyal troops were quite lucky to receive a tip from a local citizen who had seen them flee to the warehouse district.

He and his search and rescue team combed through the majority of the grounds. They were immediately alerted when they heard the echo of a single blaster shot and the boy's screams emanating from a warehouse about a klick south. Captain Rex's team boarded their gunship and flew to that vicinity with all haste. Two escorting gunships also accompanied them. They had to land a quarter of a mile away to avoid alerting the perpetrators of their presence. Once close enough, they proceeded on foot. They had to be stealthy enough to catch the turncoats red-handed. The Captain and his team surrounded the building and blocked all exits. They had a force of thirty-five troopers since all search and rescue units spread out in the entire district had been called to the Captain's position for reinforcement. There was no telling what the sith boy's condition was or if he was free of his bonds and Captain Rex refused to allow the renegade clones a chance to escape. Rex and three of his most loyal troopers accompanied him inside the dimly lit structure. It was time to catch those villains…

They made sure they weren't going in completely blind. They used scanners to detect the heat signatures of the four renegade clones and pin-pointed their exact position.

"Trapper and Slider…I want you to go around to the north end and flank them. Cover us while Ace and I move in," Rex spoke quietly while pulling out his twin blaster pistols.

The rest of his team nodded silently and then ran stealthily through the maze of crates to carry out his orders. Captain Rex ran forward swiftly when he heard the child cry out in pain again. Ace followed him and they soon reached ground zero. They kept their backs to a crate and peered around the corner to see four of the traitors aim their blasters at the boy who was lying on the floor in a terrible condition. They heard the renegade leader snap one last question.

"Any last words, Separatist filth?" Rusty cruelly asked of the child.

The clones hiding behind the crates were unable to hear the boy's weak response. Captain Rex whispered to his comrade beside him.

"We are going to crash their little party on my mark…"

Ace nodded silently acknowledging his order. They both heard the traitorous clone named Rusty begin to count down from three. Captain Rex's fears were confirmed. They were going to execute this boy! He nodded silently to Ace and then loudly whispered his next order.

"Now!"

Captain Rex and Ace popped out from behind their cover and aimed their blasters at the four turncoats.

"Hold it right there!" Captain Rex ordered with a dangerous edge to his voice. He had no qualms about shooting the renegade troopers if they chose to do something stupid by disobeying his command.

The four clones now caught, aimed their blasters at Rex and Ace.

"You!" Rusty took a step forward in challenge.

"We have the building completely surrounded. Now put your blasters down. There is no need for further violence…" Captain Rex narrowed his eyes from behind his helmet.

"You shouldn't have interfered!" Rusty snapped.

"And you should have considered the consequences before engaging in such a foolish plan! You are facing serious charges, trooper." Rex countered him.

"Don't you understand? We are doing this for the greater good!" Rusty jerked his blaster rifle forward a few more inches as his voice rose in volume.

The crazed clone reached down and hauled a dazed Zekaloph to his feet and held the child in front of him as a hostage.

The child had blood running out of his nose and it leaked out of his swollen mouth. It looked as if he could barely stand. Despite the fact the Kaleesh boy had reddish, scaly skin, Captain Rex could already see tell-tale signs of a black eye. His other eye was swollen shut. One of the tusks on his face was clearly fractured. The boy was wheezing for breath and one of his legs looked broken. As Rex's eyes silently and carefully scanned the child from head to toe, he noticed the blaster wound on the boy's leg.

If that cauterized wound wasn't treated soon it would get infected and would start bleeding out. If it wasn't for the crazed, rogue clone that currently held him up the child would undoubtedly be lying in a bloody heap on the floor.

Rusty rested his blaster barrel against the child's temple in clear warning.

"This boy is our enemy! Or have you forgotten?"

"This prisoner is unarmed. Look at him, he's just a kid! Do you want that kind of blood on your hands?" Rex tried to reason.

"Drop your weapons…or this boy's death will be on your hands."

"I have the feeling that you are willing to kill him regardless!" Captain Rex growled in response, as he tightened his hold on his weapons.

"Drop your guns now or I'll shoot!" Rusty shouted angrily as his grip on the boy tightened, eliciting a pain filled moan from Zekaloph.

"Come on now Rusty, think about what you are doing…"

"I know what I am doing! I'm avenging our fallen brothers!" Rusty angrily yelled as he shoved the blaster barrel further into the side of Zekaloph's throbbing temple.

"Revenge will not bring them back! They died with honor on the battlefield as any soldier might."

"You are wrong! They were murdered by those Separatist cowards and by those heartless droids! Now do the smart thing and drop those guns! This is your last warning!" Rusty angrily shouted as he shook Zekaloph's beaten body in emphasis earning a pain filled cry.

"Alright, Rusty…take it easy…" Captain Rex gave Ace a subtle nod and the two of them slowly crouched down to place their guns on the floor. They stood up with their hands raised once they were disarmed, now completely at the renegade trooper's mercy.

"Smart choice! Surely you know by now that the son of General Grievous must die!" Rusty's hand that held the blaster began to shake.

"That may be so Rusty, but no one made us judge and executioner," Rex continued to try to reason with the madman.

"If this child is allowed to live he will grow up to be just like his father and will kill millions!"

Trapper and Slider appeared high up near the rafters on top of some of the crates directly behind Rusty. Captain Rex was thankful he had his helmet on or else the rogue troopers would have seen his eyes dart upwards. Trapper and Slider began their slow, stealthy decent from above. Now Rex knew that all he had to do was keep Rusty talking…

"How can you know that for sure?"

"Just look at what he's done already! Are you that blind?! Together, they will destroy us all!"

"You don't know that for certain," Rex shook his head.

"Haven't you listened to this little rat's death threats?! He's got dark Jedi powers and is too dangerous to be kept alive!"

"His fate will be determined by the Jedi. It's not for us to decide!"

"If we kill him now, we can save all our brothers!"

"Our brothers? You murdered six of them! You are no better than those heartless clankers!" Captain Rex snarled as he pointed a finger at Rusty in clear accusation.

"They were collateral damage. They were protecting this…thing," Rusty sneered down at the battered, nearly unconscious Kaleesh boy.

"That doesn't give you the right to murder our own brothers or the right to kill this child! Think about what you are doing!" Captain Rex gave a subtle nod to his two men above them while arguing with the renegade leader. Trapper and Slider prepared to take down the rebels.

"How could you let this steaming pile of bantha-shit live?! Do you know how many of us he's killed?" Rusty snarled angrily.

"He hasn't killed any of our brothers, Rusty," Captain Rex shook his head sadly at his delusional subordinate.

"LIES! He's murdered hundreds!"

"No he hasn't. The Jedi General Kit Fisto interrogated this boy onboard his ship. The boy answered his questions truthfully. He's only wounded or stunned troopers. No casualties. He's innocent of murder."

Rusty aimed his blaster at Captain Rex as his hand kept shaking.

"I don't believe you! This is a trick!"

"No it isn't Rusty. Would your commanding officer lie to you?"

The renegade clone leader hesitated as he considered Rex's question. Captain Rex thought it wise to address the other three renegade clones who now appeared baffled with this new information.

"You three…this is your last chance. Drop your weapons. That's an order."

The three renegade clones glanced at each other as if silently debating on whether or not they should obey their commanding officer. Captain Rex continued to persuade them.

"If you surrender now, the consequences will be less severe. Continue to resist and you're facing immediate death penalty by firing squad. You are all smart enough to know that."

One by one the other three renegade clones dropped their blasters to the ground with heavy clatters and walked forward with their hands raised in surrender. Ace kept his weapon trained on them as they moved to stand on the sidelines.

"Make one wrong move and I'll blast you," Ace growled threateningly.

At that moment a squad of Rex's troops invaded the arena and took the three renegade clones into custody while the remaining ones aimed their blasters at Rusty.

"You're all making a big mistake! By saving this boy you are condemning us all to death!" Rusty screamed at all of them in rage.

That distraction gave Trapper and Slider the window of opportunity that they needed. They slid down the last few boxes they had been steadily climbing down from and took Rusty down. Trapper took the butt end of his blaster rifle and swiftly struck Rusty in the back of his head near his neck-line, immediately dropping him. Slider grabbed the renegade leader's arms and pulled Rusty's hands behind his back. He took a pair of cuffs and slapped them on Rusty's wrists and then hauled him up and carried his unconscious form out of the warehouse.

Zekaloph had been thrown from the crazed clone's grasp and fell down to the ground. He screamed as stars exploded in his vision. He felt paralyzed as his body began to go numb. His severe injuries had been greatly aggravated when his body hit the floor. He moaned and stared up at the ceiling as his vision swam. Captain Rex knelt down next to him and ripped his helmet off.

"Kid, can you hear me?"

It was interesting to finally see the man's face. So this is what every clone trooper looked like beneath the helmet? This clone's face looked haggard and worn and when he locked eyes on Zekaloph's, the Kaleesh boy could see deep regret shining within them. His savior looked down on him with worry as he gently checked him over for injuries. This was not the rescuer he'd imagined would come for him. Come to think of it, he hadn't expected any sort of rescue. This clone cared about him after the others had tried to kill him. Why? Weren't they all the same, all of one mind?

Zekaloph's thoughts began to slow as he found it more difficult to breathe. The six clones that had tried to kill him…no, the four that had been trying to kill him, all had unique names. They weren't all the same despite the fact that they all shared the same genetic code and all had the same identical face. The clone currently kneeling above him looked different for some reason. He'd only seen one other clone without a helmet on. It had been the clone officer that tried to stop his kidnappers on the airfield… but Zekaloph could tell that his rescuer was somehow different from all the rest. He could see it in his eyes. Captain Rex appeared haunted…like he'd seen dark, terrible, and unimaginable things. No thanks to the war, the boy presumed. What had this clone seen and what had he experienced? Zekaloph wasn't sure why he entertained such questions. He was a sith apprentice. He wasn't supposed to care. Maybe it was the fact that he was still a curious child despite his advanced training. Maybe it was the fact that he was dying. Zekaloph closed his eyes for a moment as that thought pulverized his mind.

I'm dying?

"Stay with me, kid!" the clone Captain shouted as Zekaloph began to fade.

It was weird that the clone trying to save his life, found his life even remotely valuable. Surely they knew about the attempted murder on Ahsoka's life and of his murderous intentions towards the rest of them. Zekaloph thought the troops that arrived a few minutes ago were just going to help Rusty finish him off.

Zekaloph felt the clone gently cradle his face in his hands and Rex almost appeared as if he were going to cry. Why would a Republic clone trooper cry for him? He didn't even know him. He didn't know what he was capable of. They were all supposed to hate him. They were all supposed to kill him like the six had intended… what the four had nearly done just a moment ago. They were at war. He was the son of General Grievous. What was he to them? A hostage… a bargaining chip… a criminal…a sith apprentice…an enemy…a murderer… that last thought struck Zekaloph as funny. He hadn't murdered anyone. At least not yet. Ahsoka was meant to be his first real kill. She got away. His mind began to race as he thought back on his life. Dooku made him kill that one man…the one with the Republic tattoo. It was dishonorable. He was an unarmed prisoner. Zekaloph wasn't meant to be an executioner. He was a warrior. He was meant to kill but only on a battlefield. Unlike the Sith…perhaps even unlike his father, Zekaloph did not take delight in the prospect of ending a life. He was only going to kill out of necessity. No…Zekaloph reasoned-he wasn't a murderer.

Captain Rex leaned an ear against Zekaloph's chest to find that the boy was no longer breathing as he checked for his pulse. Zekaloph's hearing soon became muffled as he heard Captain Rex screaming for a medic. He didn't even realize that his handcuffs and shackles had been removed. He stared up at the Captain with glassy eyes.

"Come on kid, don't die on me!" Rex's face contorted into one of pain.

Zekaloph was supposed to turn 13 within the month. He wanted to return to Kalee. He wanted to meet the rest of his family. What he really wanted…was to tell his father goodbye. He knew that he would never get the chance. His dreams were for naught. He felt his heart begin to slow. Captain Rex stared down at him and said something that Zekaloph could barely hear. He was able to lip-read his last words.

"Don't you dare die on me now kid!"

Zekaloph stared wordlessly up at the despairing clone Captain as he felt his heart render one last beat. His body soon felt light and fuzzy. It almost felt like he could fly… the son of General Grievous didn't close his eyes. He didn't need too. A bright light filled his vision and everything went completely white.

The clone medic came and all but shoved Captain Rex aside in order to get to the child. After examining him he shook his head.

"I can't give him chest compressions to restart his heart, his ribs are broken."

The clone medic took a syringe filled with a strong stimulant out of his medical kit and jammed it into the side of the child's neck. He checked him over and made sure that none of the boy's broken ribs had pierced his lungs. He then made a frantic, waving gesture for one of his assistants to quickly aid him as he took out a portable defibrillator.

"Everyone stand back!" He rubbed the two shock pads together. "CLEAR!"

He gently pushed the defibrillator pads down on the boy's chest being mindful of his injuries and jolted him with 800 volts in the hopes it would restart his heart. Still nothing happened.

"I'm going to try this again…CLEAR!"

The clone medic performed the procedure another two times and increased the electrical charge sending first 1,000 and then 1,700 volts coursing through the flat-lined patient. He pressed two fingers against the boy's neck and checked the child's aortic artery for a pulse. A few seconds later the medic sighed in relief.

"Alright, we've got a pulse…but it's very weak. What injuries I've managed to ascertain are severe but I've stabilized him. We need to get him to a medical triage facility immediately."

"Do what you have to do, Jolt" Captain Rex sighed heavily as he ran a hand over his face in relief.

He carefully watched two clones assigned to Jolt's medical team gently lift Zekaloph's body and put him on a stretcher. The clone medic followed the troops carrying his patient while Captain Rex trailed after them. Jolt was one of the best field medics in the galaxy and Captain Rex was so lucky and very grateful that he had him on his unit. Within the past seven months, Jolt managed to save 5,402 wounded troopers on the battlefield. Once released from Kamino after graduating with high honors at the training academy, he'd been on the frontlines from the very beginning and served under Captain Rex's command since that time.

"Jolt, I'm coming with you. I'm not letting this boy out of my sight after what happened here. I'm going to contact Commander Cody, Jedi master Plo-Koon, and General Kenobi immediately. I want you to keep me posted on his condition."

"Yes, sir," Jolt nodded his head in the affirmative as he and his team loaded the injured boy into a small, medical transport.

Once they were all on board, they flew away from the warehouse district and sped towards the aforementioned triage facility like a Tuskcat out of hell.

Captain Rex reported directly to Commander Cody of the situation almost immediately after rescuing Zekaloph. The Commander had been gracious enough to take it upon himself to take Captain Rex's report and pass it on to General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi master Plo-Koon.

"The boy is being treated now as we speak. The six clones that are responsible for the kidnapping, assault, and intended murder of the boy have been court marshalled and are standing trial for those charges in addition to the murders they committed against their acting Sergeant and five of their fellow troopers," Commander Cody grimly reported to the holographic images of General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Plo-Koon.

"Where is the boy currently being treated?" Obi-Wan questioned gravely.

"The Herald Triage facility a few klicks northeast from the prison complex he was previously being contained in. We have kept his whereabouts top secret."

"What is his current condition?" Master Plo questioned with a sense of dread.

"Not good, I'm afraid. He's suffered blunt-force trauma to nearly eighty-five percent of his body. He's got a major concussion and he has internal bleeding which the surgeons are working on right now. I don't currently know the full extent of his injuries. I'm still waiting on the full report."

"Keep us updated on his condition. The Jedi Council is being informed of this incident. We originally wanted to question the boy but Master Yoda does not believe it would be wise for him to be brought before the council until his condition has improved."

"Yes sir, but right now it's too soon to know an approximate recovery time. He's practically knocking on death's door. I'm sorry for this turn of events Generals," Commander Cody lowered his head regretfully. He was willing to take the blame. After all, Republic clone troopers were the ones responsible for the intended murder of the child.

"Jedi master Plo-Koon will be arriving at the Herald triage facility within the hour. We cannot risk the chance that this incident may reoccur," Obi-Wan didn't bother hiding his disappointment.

"I have an elite guard posted at the facility. The boy will remain safe this time."

"Yes, but can your troops be trusted Commander?" Obi-Wan's face spoke volumes of his displeasure.

"Yes, sir. I hand-picked these men myself, General. They are the most trusted and most loyal troopers I could ever ask for."

"Very well, Cody."

"I am on my way now," Jedi master Plo-Koon stated and then cut his own transmission, leaving Obi-Wan and Commander Cody to continue their conversation.

"Cody, I want Captain Rex to guard this boy until Jedi General Plo-Koon arrives. What happened proves that many soldiers hold a deep grudge against General Grievous. I'm counting on you and Rex to ensure this doesn't happen again."

"Yes, sir. You can always count on us."

"I always do," Kenobi smiled.

They both said farewell and ended the transmission. Commander Cody ran a hand through his hair and picked up his helmet from where he'd set it down on the console. Once Grievous caught wind of the Republic's murderous exploits against the child...

Cody honestly didn't want to think of the consequences. There was nothing more frightening, than a father's retribution...

General Grievous wished this ship would fly faster. If only he could miraculously teleport. He was still two days from reaching Coruscant. He was quite surprised when a bounty hunter by the name of Cad Bane managed to contact him with news regarding his son.

"Greetings, General. I have valuable information that I believe you may find useful," the bounty hunter tipped his hat by way of greeting.

"What do you wish in return?" Grievous narrowed his eyes. Bounty hunters almost always bargained in exchange for valuable Intel. The General was very cautious. They were sometimes unpredictable and their word could not always be trusted. He listened intently.

"There is no fee. My employer already paid me quite handsomely just to contact you."

"Go on." He wondered if Count Dooku was the one to pay this messenger.

"There was a bounty posted on six Republic clone troopers not long ago. The broadcast stated that they had a captive with them. An eyewitness managed to take a snapshot of the abductee…" Cad Bane showed Grievous the picture.

The image was slightly blurry indicating that the clones had been in motion but there was a fairly distinguishable outline that the General knew all too well. It was his son. He had no doubt. His son was held securely against a clone trooper on a speeder bike.

"Do you know where they have taken him?" Grievous questioned hopefully as he leaned forward.

"There was a local citizen that gave the Republic a vague tip on where they might have gone. He was last seen in the Warehouse district."

"Did your employer pay you to rescue him?"

"No, there was no need. He was rescued by a garrison of clones," the bounty hunter took his hat off and dusted it off casually before putting it back on.

Grievous sighed in relief and pushed aside his hate for the Republic troopers for a moment. As long as his son lived, that's what was most important. His sense of relief was soon cruelly shattered at what the bounty hunter said next.

"This is not why I have contacted you."

The Kaleesh cyborg narrowed his eyes.

"Then what was the purpose of your call?"

"Regrettably, your son is now dead."

What?! No…that couldn't be possible. Grievous refused to believe it!

"Do you have solid proof of the boy's demise?" Grievous questioned carefully as fear began to gnaw away at his rapidly beating heart.

"He died of his wounds approximately three hours ago. This photograph was taken by a Republic crime scene unit."

The picture the bounty hunter was showing him was magnified so he could get a clearer look. His heart nearly stopped. There was his son…broken, bloodied, and beaten. His eyes stared up lifelessly and next to him was a clone medic. The medic's hand was raised in the universal sign that the child was pronounced dead.

No… this couldn't happen. He was so close! So close to rescuing his son!

"The six clones that tortured and killed him are still alive and awaiting trial."

There was only one goal left in mind now.

"Where are they?" Grievous's voice was dark and promised death as he slowly clenched his cybernetic hands into fists.

"They are being detained in the same detention center your son was in. I am sending you the coordinates now."

The General of the droid armies watched the data stream into his ship's database with dark satisfaction.

"Tell no one of this conversation or I'll be sure to put a bounty on your head," the Kaleesh cyborg growled in warning as he pointed a sharp, metal talon at the bounty hunter's holo-image.

"You have my word," Cad Bane bowed his head respectfully before cutting the transmission.

General Grievous did not openly voice his feelings to the bounty hunter. He refused to believe his son was dead. He needed to see Zekaloph for himself. If it was true…Grievous would be sure to recover his body and bury him on their home-world of Kalee. Those wicked Republic clone troopers were going to stand trial. HIS trial. They were going to suffer the cruelest of death penalties. General Grievous was going to ensure that his son was truly avenged!

Dark feelings began to bubble out of his aching heart and rose to the surface unbridled. He raised his head to the ceiling and unleashed a bone-chilling cry. If someone had been around to hear it, they wouldn't be sure if it was a scream of rage…or of agony. To the General of the droid armies…it was both.

Author's Note/Disclaimer: Is Zekaloph really dead? Sorry I can't tell you that. Don't hate me! What I can say is- Do you honestly think I'd have the heart to kill off my own unique character? You'll just have to wait for the next chapter. ;) I know this chapter was shorter than most. I might not be able to update for a little while because I've got some serious life issues going on and I'm burned out and need a break from this story. I honestly don't know when I can get another chapter posted. Sorry about that! Fear not, this story will NEVER be abandoned! Oh and a Tuskcat is a tiger like species that lives on Naboo. I found this form of life on Wikipedia while looking for what I thought to be a "Wombat" which apparently doesn't exist or I spelled it wrong and just couldn't find it lol. Thanks for reading, reviewing, and adding me to alerts and favorites! :D