Author's Note: I know it's been forever since my last update. I apologize. I've been ill a lot. Can't eat or sleep. Dealing with constant ear infections as well as other mystery illnesses that have made me incredibly fatigued and overly tired, hence the lack of writing/updating. Doctors don't know what's wrong with me so I've been in and out of the hospital constantly. Happy belated New Years and Christmas!

WARNING!—There are torture/death scenes in this chapter, revolving mainly around Renegade squad. But don't worry, I try not to write anything too graphic but I just wanted to advise that you read at your own discretion. ALSO we have story pirates lurking on fanfiction! Someone stole two of the stories I wrote on my other fanfiction profile, claimed it was their own original work, and posted it on a completely different website that was similar to . O_O I was pissed. I reported them and my stories were removed from the other author's webpage by their administrator. Hopefully I won't encounter any more of those pirates. I thought that everything we write on this website is 'copyrighted'… so that no one can steal our stories! Not sure if it is now. Apparently in this sick world, people find a way.


CHAPTER 29

After two grueling months of research, tracking, questioning, and interrogating, Master Plo-Koon finally found most of the answers he had been searching for. It took a long time to track down the two bounty hunting brothers who had successfully spirited young Zekaloph away from the heavily guarded Clone triage facility by cleverly switching the boy with a Changeling. They truthfully confirmed that they had been the ones to have done so but as bounty hunters they were protected by a guild who had successfully managed to pass a law through the Senate that gave them full immunity to incarceration or punishment so long as their bounties were not killed or harmed in any way. Unfortunately in addition to that law, there existed a statute that also protected the confidentiality of the individual who hired those bounty hunters.

How that law and statute were successfully approved in the Senate was beyond the Jedi's understanding. Master Plo had a feeling that there was something else at work. Something dark and sinister…perhaps a lurking danger that was not yet ready to reveal itself. He sometimes thought he heard whispers…warnings, emanating through the force. Whoever hired those bounty hunters wanted to remain anonymous and untraceable. A few Jedi Council Members suggested during one of their meetings that the employer had most likely been an agent for Count Dooku or perhaps the Count himself. Since it had been obviously proven that Zekaloph had not been harmed, the two bounty hunters could not be imprisoned, punished, or detained. So the Jedi Council soon dropped the matter entirely and resumed their hunt for the Sith fugitive, Zekaloph Quilamec Sheelal.

The law that the senate approved had of course, infuriated Anakin Skywalker. The young man secretly pleaded with Padme to find some way to amend that law, insisting that the two bounty hunters who rescued Zekaloph from his imprisonment, be charged as accessories to Ahsoka's murder. Padme of course was in no position to alter such an extreme law. At least, not on her own. She would need Chancellor Palpatine's approval and a unanimous vote in the Senate before any changes could be made. So Anakin immediately went to see the Chancellor and told him of his plight. The elderly man simply placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder and apologized, saying that the law in question could not be nullified or revised for another three years due to the time-stamp associated with it. In desperation, Anakin sought out his master…only to run into yet another dead end. Obi-Wan Kenobi tried to kindly remind Anakin that Ahsoka's demise was not on the account of murder since she chose to willingly engage in a dueling match against the Sith apprentice.

So now Anakin Skywalker was currently taking the law into his own hands. He decided it would be a good idea to visit Zekaloph's home-world first. Perhaps there he could find answers that the Jedi archives failed to yield and hopefully provide him with a new lead as to Zekaloph's current whereabouts. It was a long shot but he had to try. He would be very discreet of course and operate undercover with a false identity and would leave anything tying him to the Jedi far behind him. He knew what his master Obi-Wan would say and could practically see Kenobi's disapproving frown… "Your lightsaber is your life Anakin! How many times must I tell you, not to lose it?" Well…technically he wasn't losing it. He was purposefully leaving it behind.

He boarded his ship, "The Twilight" and paused once he seated himself in the pilot's chair. A lump formed in his throat and unshed tears filled his eyes as memories of Ahsoka surfaced as he glanced longingly at the empty co-pilot's seat next to him. Sometimes he could still picture her, clear as day…smiling and laughing as they joked and bantered as they often had. Sometimes, he could almost hear her voice. The loss of his padawan left yet another empty hole in his heart. First the death of his mother, now the aftermath of Ahsoka's. He immediately pushed those memories aside and began his pre-flight and takeoff sequence.

He didn't forget his promise to the Sith boy to uncover the truth regarding the fate of Kalee and his origins. Anakin was going to keep that promise, no matter how enraged he was at the youth. No, he was not going to kill the boy. He knew in his heart that such a course of action was not what Ahsoka would have wanted. He was going to capture Zekaloph. The Kaleesh boy was going to receive due punishment for his crimes against the Republic.

Anakin Skywalker made it out beyond Coruscant's atmosphere and immediately punched in the coordinates for Kalee and made the jump to hyperspace.


Zekaloph finally docked with his father's flagship "The Invisible Hand" after his five hour long trip. He left Sith lord Razer's artifacts on board his personal ship, "The Dark Shadow". The young warrior immediately reported to his father, who filled him in on present circumstances. So the Jedi were hunting for him…that honestly didn't surprise the teen.

Once General Grievous finished relaying Dooku's report, he eyed his son suspiciously. His boy appeared to have…changed…in some way. He couldn't quite put a metal digit on what it was exactly but he was not shy to question him about it.

"Zekaloph...what happened on Korriban?"

"I'm afraid it's a matter I'm not at liberty to discuss, father. The details regarding my mission are meant for Dooku and him alone. I'm sorry," Zekaloph bowed his head with a hand over his heart, in a show of reverent respect. He displayed a great deal of maturity and wisdom. More so than he had before his departure to the infamous Sith planet.

Grievous nodded slightly although his golden eyes held a glimmer of curiosity.

"I understand."

Zekaloph's demeanor shifted into one of all seriousness then.

"Where are the clone prisoners and what is their condition?"

"Each one of them has remained in isolation. They have been given their daily supply of nutrients, some more forcefully than others due to their rather defiant nature, but have otherwise remained unharmed as you wished."

Grievous broke down into a brief, hacking cough. After the Kaleesh warlord recovered himself, he gently gave his son a pat on the back while minutely nodding his head.

"I leave them in your capable hands. Do what must be done. Show no mercy," Grievous growled through his mask.

"I understand, father."

The cyborg Kaleesh then turned around and stalked away.

Zekaloph heavily sighed and then headed down towards the detention block, all the while remembering and considering what Sith lord Razer had discussed with him on Korriban. After retrieving his lightsaber, the young Kaleesh went to the nearest detention block security station and gave the droids currently keeping watch over the clones, explicit instructions.

"Bring all of the prisoners out of isolation and into the torture chamber immediately." He watched the droids with a sharp eye as they carried out his orders. Zekaloph knew that his father would be watching him through the live security feed in the room. The young warrior knew that to show the clones any mercy would in essence be signing his own death warrant. The young Kaleesh for now…would have to grudgingly play the role of merciless Sith apprentice. He would obey every command given to him from both his father and Darth Tyrannus until the day finally came, for him to enact his revenge upon his master and ultimately free himself from the Sith.

Zekaloph wordlessly followed the droids that half-carried and half-dragged the five clone prisoners into the dimly lit room. His keen eyes swept over the captives and he immediately began to assess their current condition.

The five clones, were chained up and looked weak, malnourished, defeated, and utterly broken as they met his gaze with dull eyes devoid of hope. Zekaloph removed his battle mask since there was no need to keep his identity secret since the clones had seen his face months ago when they attacked him. He casually clasped his hands behind his back and began to slowly pace before them.

"Do you know why you are here?"

The clones remained silent since the question was rhetorical. The young Kaleesh warrior subtly inclined his head and narrowed his golden, reptilian eyes as he rephrased the question.

"Do you know why you have been kept alive thus far?"

Rusty, spat in the direction of Zekaloph's left boot but missed. Zekaloph raised an eye ridge with an amused smirk.

"General Grievous wishes for me to prolong your lives so that you may suffer immeasurable pain and ceaseless torture at my hands. Personally I've grown rather bored of this game and desire to put you all out of your misery. Unfortunately for you, my father is watching us now as I speak via surveillance cam. There are but one of two choices to make. To prove to you that I am not as heartless as you perceive me to be, I shall demonstrate a democracy by allowing each of you to cast a vote."

Zekaloph paused as he set his lightsaber and one of the clone's DC-15 blaster rifles on a table beside him from across the room.

"Here are your options. One…I walk away, free of guilt, with my hands clean of your blood and force General Grievous to do far worse than anything I could possibly imagine doing to you. Or option two…"

Zekaloph paused as he evenly met the despondent gazes of each surviving member of Renegade squad with a grim face. The clones were more than surprised that the young Kaleesh warrior standing in front of them wasn't as thirsty for their blood as he had been two weeks previously. They kept silent as they waited for the boy to finish speaking.

"…I allow you to suffer the relatively quick deaths that you all have been wishing for. Granted, it will be tragic and will bring you great pain but nowhere near as agonizing a demise as Grievous would have in store for you. I will give you exactly one minute to decide."

Zekaloph turned his back on them as he fingered the edges and grooves of the DC-15 battle rifle with one clawed digit. He tuned out the harsh, bickering whispers between the clones as they furiously deliberated their final course of action. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips when the one named "Avalanche" announced their verdict a few seconds later.

"We have voted accordingly and our decision has been made. We have agreed to pursue whatever fate you have in store for us as you promised, in regards to Option number two."

"A wise decision," Zekaloph nodded as he turned back around to face them.

He briskly walked over and unchained Rusty.

"There is but one rule you must follow. Do not, in any way, dare to attack or retaliate against me or I will deliver you into the eager hands of my father and disregard our conversation and our agreement. Understood?"

The five clones nodded grimly as they finally accepted their fate.

"Very good," Zekaloph nodded as he retrieved both his red lightsaber and the blaster from the table. He clipped the lightsaber to his belt and handed the blaster rifle to Rusty and then proceeded to unchain Skids. He gestured for Skids to stand against the far, East wall and then stood back so that Rusty and Skids had a direct line of sight with one another.

"I've given you this blaster for a single purpose. I'm sure you are already aware of what that is."

Rusty's eyes went wide and he shook his head.

"N-no…I…I can't!"

Zekaloph gave him a single warning…one that the rest of Renegade squad would take to heart, if they truly wanted to save each other in the only way they knew how.

"If clone comradery is as true as I hear it is, you wouldn't want to put your brothers' in harm's way, now would you? Defy my order and you can be certain that disobeying my command, will make your team suffer unimaginable horror."

"We all knew someday it would come to this. Just pull the trigger, Rusty!" Skids nodded.

The leader of Renegade squad shook his head as the hint of tears glimmered in his eyes.

"I can't." With those words, he dropped the blaster rifle to the ground with a loud clatter.

Zekaloph shook his head in disappointment. Using the Force, he pulled the blaster rifle into his awaiting hands.

"Your inability to execute your squad-mate…will now result with their agonizing torture and slow, inhumane execution. Congratulations clone leader, instead of saving your brethren, you've just betrayed and killed them in the most cowardly way imaginable."

The Kaleesh warrior turned his back on the clones and slowly began to march up the steps that would lead him back out into the hallway but Rusty screamed after him.

"WAIT! I'm sorry! Please…please…I'm begging you! Give me another chance…I promise I'll do it!"

Zekaloph paused mid-stride and then partially turned his head around to look at Rusty through his peripheral vision as he appeared to be considering his words.

"You have broken your oath and in so doing, have made our agreement nullified. Why should I grant you your request?"

Rusty's voice cracked as he desperately pleaded with him.

"Because…I'm responsible! I'm the one who wanted revenge against your father. I'm the one who coerced the others to join me in order to kidnap, abuse, and nearly kill you. They were just following my orders. So the consequences rest with me and me alone! I understand now what you require of me and I promise to fulfill your terms if you grant me this second chance!"

Zekaloph turned completely around to regard the Renegade leader and eventually nodded his head.

"You make a compelling case. Very well. I will grant you one last opportunity. Should you fail again…there will be no hope of mercy."

"I promise," Rusty seemed to sag with relief.

"Now do as I previously ordered. Execute your comrade."

"Yes, sir."

Rusty took aim at Skids whose face had gone pale and squeezed the trigger. On reflex Skids leapt out of the way and avoided the shot entirely. He hit the floor and covered his head, no doubt due to his deeply ingrained combat training. Zekaloph cursed when he realized he missed that crucial detail.

"Damn. I forgot you clones were programmed with that reflex action. We will do this once more but we'll do it right."

Zekaloph roughly hauled Skids back up to his feet by the scruff of his tattered and blood-stained under-shirt and shoved him back into place. He then went to stand beside Rusty. The Kaleesh then unsheathed both of his father's swords and just as he had done within the tomb of Razer, he shrew first one and then the other end over end until they embedded themselves deeply within both of Skid's shoulders, pinning him to the wall. The clone screamed in agony. The accuracy and critical position of where the twin swords had struck, made it impossible for the helpless clone to remove them of his own volition. Zekaloph stepped back to give Rusty room.

The leader of Renegade squad once again took aim although his hands shook as his resolve to terminate his friend briefly wavered. Skids was already sobbing and moaning from the agony his wounds were causing him. He finally shouted at Rusty in raw desperation.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! JUST PULL THE DAMN TRIGGER!"

Rusty got his shaking under control and carefully aimed the red, dotted sight on Skid's forehead. Sweat beaded on his brow and began to drip down the side of his face. He choked on a sob as his finger finally squeezed the firing pin. Skids was killed instantly and hung limply from where Zekaloph's twin blades had kept him mercilessly impaled against the wall. Rusty sagged to his knees and watched as the blaster rifle in his hands, slowly slid out of his numb grasp to land on the floor in front of him with an angry clatter. He looked at his shaking hands with eyes wide in complete denial. What had he done?

It was in that moment that Rusty attempted to rationalize and justify his actions. Skids had been suffering, so he had done the honorable and noble deed of putting him out of his misery. He was the only one who could give his squad the quick deaths they deserved. Right? He shuddered to think what horrors Grievous would have done to them otherwise had he chosen to rebel against Zekaloph's order entirely. That heartless cyborg would have in all probability gone so far as to slowly rip one of his men limb from limb.

Zekaloph ordered Rusty to remove Skid's body from the newly marked execution line as the young Kaleesh retrieved his father's twin swords. He wiped the blood off of them with a wet rag nearby and sheathed them. He looked at the remaining three clones apart from Rusty with all seriousness.

"Unless you want to end up like your friend over there, I suggest that when your turn finally comes, you remain stationary."

The Kaleesh warrior felt a slight disturbance in the force. His father was watching…and was obviously not pleased with his methods. So Zekaloph went to where Rusty was kneeling on the floor and grabbed the baster rifle. He ripped the scope clean off with his cybernetic hands and made a few simple adjustments with the tools on the workbench nearby.

Zekaloph also used discarded scrap metal to fashion crude binders to keep the clones attached to the wall. He then unchained Clapper and roughly shoved him to the line. With swift, precise movements, Zekaloph grabbed each of the clone's wrists and raised them up to where the binders had been welded into the wall and cuffed him.

"I'm afraid you're next. Sorry to say that your demise may not be as quick as your former comrade's was."

"You are a monster," Clapper softly declared.

Zekaloph growled as he wrapped a Duranium hand around the clone's throat and lightly squeezed. With icy eyes he hissed his response.

"I have granted you clones far more mercy than what the Separatists and the Sith allow. You say that I'm a monster? I assure you…a monster lives in everyone. You proved that the day you mercilessly beat and tortured an innocent child…the day you tried to kill me. You are all responsible, for bringing that monster to life…within me…and within yourselves."

Zekaloph released Clapper from his choke-hold and then went across the room. He kicked Rusty in the leg to snap him out of his dazed stupor and dropped the rifle back into his hands.

"You have three more executions to perform. I suggest you return to your firing position."

Rusty stood up with haunted eyes as he looked at the remaining survivors of his squad. He swallowed the thick lump that formed in his throat as he turned to regard them. He found it incredibly difficult to speak since his mouth felt as though someone had shoved a wad of cotton in his mouth. Perhaps their executions were a mercy. They were all starved, dehydrated, and still retained unhealed wounds that were bad enough to warrant some form of medical attention. They obviously weren't going to get any, even if their lives had been extended another three days. With tears forming in his eyes he choked out the words he was so desperately trying to say.

"I'm so sorry, my brothers. Please forgive me…"

He then focused his full attention on Clapper and aimed the blaster rifle. He squinted an eye as he attempted to line up the shot. The loss of the scope made it incredibly difficult to gauge any true accuracy as he looked down the line of the barrel. The first shot wildly missed. Clapper began to shake as his eyes betrayed the true terror he was feeling. Rusty paused and looked at his comrade.

"Close your eyes Clapper. Think back to our days at the academy. Remember how terrible the cafeteria food was…and how we started that food fight?"

Rusty squeezed off a second shot, which hit Clapper's left leg. His scream made Renegade squad grimace. Avalanche looked away while Swift held his hands over his ears…rocking back and forth in his anxiety. Rusty did his best, tried with all his power to put a quick end to his brother's suffering but since Zekaloph tampered with the damn gun, it was near impossible to get a clean shot. It was after the third blaster bolt, which struck Clapper's right shoulder that the clone leader angrily whirled on the Kaleesh teen.

"Damn it, boy! How the hell am I supposed to execute my squad with a sabotaged gun?! You promised that our deaths would be quick!"

Zekaloph leaned casually back against a wall with his arms crossed and with a frown he shrugged.

"It shouldn't take more than five to ten minutes for each member of your squad to expire. That is, if you stop prolonging their suffering and just carry on. Grievous would have made your deaths excruciating, intimate, and incredibly slow. And by his standards…the definition of slow, is measured in days. Do you still believe I'm treating you unfairly?"

Rusty clenched his jaw in rage and was tempted to shoot the Kaleesh teen but he saw the severe, warning flash in the boy's eyes and remembered their agreement. He grudgingly growled with a slow shake of his head.

"No. You are not."

"Then please continue," Zekaloph ordered with a dismissive wave.

Rusty aimed again with tears in his eyes. He clenched his jaw again and used his anger to fuel his resolve. He tried to picture his comrade as a battle droid but with every scream, the illusion was shattered.

"Clapper, remember our home? Remember Kamino? The steady, soothing sound of rain…the few times we would disobey orders and sneak outside as kids just to feel the fresh water running through our hair and down our faces…"

"T-those were the days…" Clapper weakly mumbled as his labored breathing revealed the depths of his pain.

Rusty nodded from where he stood a few yards away and gave Clapper a gesture, tapping the side of his head.

"Close your eyes and think of those days."

Clapper closed his eyes and furrowed his brows as if in deep thought.

"You know…I really did hate all that rain…"

Rusty fired the gun several times praying his comrade's misery would finally end. With every blaster round, the self-loathing that had begun to blossom in his heart kindled into a burning flame. Rusty hated himself and could hardly bear to look his brother in the eyes with every deliberate pull of the trigger. It took three additional blaster rounds to end Clapper's life. One shot grazed the side of his head, and finally the last two ripped through his chest.

The Renegade leader breathed a sigh of relief once Clapper passed on into the next realm. Once the deceased clone was free from the binders, his lifeless body was dragged to lay beside Skids.

All too soon, it was Swift's turn. He was shaking uncontrollably when he was unchained. As both Zekaloph and Rusty began to drag him, he finally cracked and began kicking and screaming.

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! NOT LIKE THIS! NOT LIKE THIS!" Swift cried as he began to hyperventilate once his wrists were bound to the wall.

Rusty's resolve to continue his role as squad executioner wavered. His already broken heart felt like it was shattering with Swift's every plea. Swift was the youngest clone in their squad. This was not a fair end for them but Rusty knew all too well that there were far worse ways to die. With a rough slap, he finally got Swift to shut up. Swift looked at him with wide-eyed confusion. Rusty's expression turned into one of all seriousness as he suddenly reverted back to his original leadership role.

"That's enough, trooper! We knew this day would come. We were sentenced to die on Coruscant for our crimes, remember? By all rights we should have died months ago. You are finally about to be free, brother. No more pain. No more suffering. No war. No grief. Think on that and nothing else. Can you do that?"

Swift looked at him with wide eyes and vigorously nodded his head although he couldn't stop his body from trembling. He began to hyperventilate when Rusty walked across the room and raised the blaster rifle at him.

"Close your eyes Swift," Rusty softly commanded.

Swift did as he was told but he continued to choke on sobs as tears managed to squeeze out of the corners of his tightly shut eyes.

Suddenly, a smooth, soothing voice filled the air. Avalanche softly began to sing…a song that they learned from one of the Mandalorians who had overseen their training on Kamino. The words were in Mando'a but even so, to Zekaloph's surprise he found the melody and the foreign words to be calming, even to him. It seemed to have a very positive effect on Swift, for the clone had stopped shaking and was no longer sobbing. Swift's face slowly became peaceful as he intently listened to the farewell song Avalanche was singing on his behalf.

"Hush now my brother…be silent, be still. Your peace has now come, your mission fulfilled. Warrior, true warrior, your fight is now done. Fear not my brother, this battle we've won."

Rusty too seemed more at ease as he once again aimed the gun and prepared to pull the trigger. He waited, hoping, and praying that Swift's death would be quick. It would take a miracle but maybe they would get lucky this time. The Renegade leader would have joined in but he knew that if he even attempted it, his voice would crack from the emotional whirlwind he felt within his heart. He was a little relieved when Swift found his voice long enough to join in the melody while he could. Rusty's finger curled around the trigger and he slowed his breathing as he aimed his eye down the length of the barrel while Avalanche continued to sing, his voice rising and falling, sounding both haunting and lament full.

"Free of this hell, safe from the flames. Fly far away, forget all your pain. Hush now, my brother…be brave and be true. The war is now past, its' over for you. My brother, dear brother…take strength from your kin. Your courage and valor ensured that we'll win."

Rusty fired. With a flash of searing, red light, the blaster bolt hit Swift in the chest but unfortunately it was not a fatal shot. He internally cursed and was damn near ready to take the gun and shoot himself in the head when Swift screamed and opened his eyes to stare at him with an expression of immeasurable pain as tears silently ran down his cheeks. Rusty's face contorted into one of emotional agony.

"I'm so sorry, Swift…listen to Avalanche. Close your eyes and listen to your brother's song."

Swift's breathing had become shallow and his eyes closed in response to Rusty's command. Avalanche's voice echoed through the large expanse of the nearly empty room.

"I'll remember you brother...eternal you'll be. I'm here with you now, you're right next to me. Brother, my brother, hear this, my song. You'll never, ever, truly be gone. We'll all just be marching…far, far away. Goodbye, my brave brother, I wish you could stay. Maybe, just maybe, we'll meet once again, once we're marching…forever…and ever away."

With one last blaster shot, Rusty finally succeeded in giving Swift the quick death that he deserved.

Avalanche watched as Rusty and Zekaloph unlocked the binders that had kept Swift's arms clasped to the wall with grief evident on his face. Unshed tears gleamed in his eyes but he didn't allow them to fall. Unlike his brethren he did not cry, plead, scream, or beg. He did not appear nearly as afraid as the others had been. In fact he seemed to be the only one at peace as he accepted his fate. He closed his eyes and lowered his head. He began to sing the "Farewell Song" again as he heard the tell-tale sound of an ammo cartridge being ejected from the blaster rifle.

Rusty looked over at Zekaloph with an upturned palm.

"I need another ammo cartridge. I'm out."

Zekaloph frowned and shook his head.

"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't have any spares laying around. Improvise."

Rusty appeared to be at a loss as he searched the room for another weapon but came up empty. Zekaloph made a suggestion. There's a blaster over there that once belonged to a B-1 battle droid. Rusty's eyes rested on the Separatist gun. His expression grew dark and he pointed a finger at it and growled at the Kaleesh boy.

"I'm not killing my brother with an enemy gun! That would be nothing short of a disgrace!"

The young Kaleesh warrior tossed a sheathed knife in Rusty's direction. The Renegade leader caught it and stared at the boy.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"You will either use that or I will use this to execute your comrade for you," Zekaloph tapped his lightsaber in warning.

Rusty nodded in defeat and dropped the blaster rifle with a clatter. He slowly approached Avalanche, whose eyes were still closed. The clone had stopped singing and appeared to be silently waiting for the inevitable.

"I'm so sorry Avalanche…forgive me."

That was when Rusty began to sing to the best of his ability.

"Sing with me, brother," he whispered with grief in his eyes.

Soon two near identical voices rose in harmony together.

The "Farewell song" continued as Rusty finally found the inner courage and strength to do what needed to be done. Without further hesitation he quickly rammed the knife through Avalanche's chest where it pierced his heart. The dying clone gasped and stared into Rusty's eyes wordlessly for a moment as he listened to the last few words of the song. He gave Rusty a small smile.

"Forgiveness... is yours...my brother," he managed to wheeze out with his dying breath.

Soon the light faded from Avalanche's eyes and his head lowered as the last of his life slipped away. Rusty, lost in despair, pressed his fingers against Avalanche's neck to check for a pulse...even though he knew he wasn't going to find one.

"NO! No...no...no! NO!" Rusty began to panic as grief and guilt slowly consumed him.

Rusty soon dropped the knife and fell to his knees. He raised his head to the ceiling and screamed in both grief and rage as the gravity of his actions finally hit home.

His entire squad. His friends. His comrades. His brothers. Were all dead now because of him. He killed them…

He went and knelt next to their bodies, weeping and whispered a Mandalorian farewell.

"Ret'urcye mhi, ner vods"**

Zekaloph pushed himself away from the wall and went to stand a few feet from Rusty.

"You did well."

Rusty didn't grace him with a response and instead gave him stone, cold silence. His slumped shoulders and defeated posture, revealed just how broken he had truly become.

"Now how do you prefer to die, Rusty?"

The clone sat motionless as if he hadn't heard him. Then without warning, he sprang to his feet and backed away, holding the knife…the knife still dripping with the spilled blood of his clone brother Avalanche and held it to his own throat.

"Not at your hands! I'll die by my own."

Zekaloph shook his head sadly and using the force, he force-pulled the knife out of Rusty's grip and caught the handle in his outstretched hand.

"Unfortunately I can't allow you to do that. At least not on your own…" Zekaloph's eyes grew soft. He made a subtle gesture towards the security cam on the ceiling.

Rusty remained silent while his eyes glanced briefly upwards. He then turned his bloodshot eyes on the boy with a frown.

"What do you have in mind?"

"You are going to kill yourself. My way."

Zekaloph retrieved the droid's blaster and tossed it in Rusty's direction. The clone caught it and stared at the Kaleesh teen with complete distrust.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Truthfully, because I must keep up the ridiculous ruse that I'm completely heartless, merciless, and nothing short of an evil monster as you clones so eloquently put it. I'm a dead man walking if I don't make your death look like murder. Consider what I'm doing…a merciful form of euthanasia. I will make it look like I forced you to kill yourself. All you have to do is play your part as the terrified victim and all will be well."

"After what you just made me do…why in the seven hells would I want to help you now?" Rusty scoffed with bitter disdain.

Zekaloph's face turned grim as he partially turned to gesture to the entrance of the cell.

"Because Rusty, in about thirty seconds, my father will be walking through that door."

Both of the current living occupants in the torture chamber stiffened when they heard the tell-tale and clearly unmistakable clanking sound of clawed Duranium feet echoing from down the hall. Zekaloph grabbed Rusty's shirt collar and yanked him forward so that he was mere inches from his face.

"You better be believable Rusty, because if you're not…he's going to kill you himself."


TO BE CONTINUED!

Author's Note: Thanks to those that added me to alerts and favorites! Also, the "Farewell Song" is MINE so PLEASE for the love of all that is good in this universe, don't become a story pirate and steal it from me! Although part of it was inspired by actual Mando'a sayings such as "Not gone, just merely marching far away." So those parts I Disclaim are NOT mine. Thanks for reading! I will do my best to start writing the next chapter! Please leave me a review as they always encourage and inspire me. They are very much appreciated!

Mando'a Translation: ** "Good-bye, my brothers."