Star Wars Character Studies
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Star Wars in any capacity, including The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Legends, etc. This disclaimer covers the entirety of this work and all installments. All works belong to George Lucas, the Walt Disney Company, Lucasfilms, and their various publishers and distributors. I own only the original characters in this work, which I earn no money for writing or posting.
Warnings: None for this chapter
*Please Note!* This chapter draws from The Clone Wars S3:E3 - Supply Lines and The Bad Batch S1:E12 - Rescue on Ryloth. If you haven't seen both of those, this one-shot will contain spoilers!
Captain Howzer and the Syndullas
Howzer gritted his teeth as he approached the cell where the Syndullas were being held. He knew they wouldn't welcome the sight of him. Cham was loyal to a fault and Eleni was even more so in her slightly smoother way. Howzer knew very well that they saw him working with Rampart as a personal betrayal.
He was just a soldier, but he would see it as an even bigger betrayal if he didn't try to help protect the youngest of the Syndulla family - a family who had been a bigger impact on Howzer's life than anything had since flash training.
The regulations demanded that troopers wear their helmets when conversing with prisoners. With the rumors of Sith lords in the Separatist Alliance, you could never be sure which prisoner would try to take over your mind with their eyes. Better to have a HUD between you, just in case.
But Howzer deliberately left his helmet off as he stepped to the ray-shielded doorway. He watched with unimpeded vision as Cham cradled Eleni, staring down at her with emotion running across his face - an incredible tumult of feeling.
When his gaze slid to Howzer, Cham's expression shuttered. In less time than it took to blink, Cham went from a worried husband and father to the proud and remorseless leader of a rebellion. Eleni turned as well, face already settled into the mask of a fierce, untouchable rebel. Howzer's chest ached with the knowledge that he had once been witness to the Syndullas when they weren't putting on masks for anyone's benefit.
He had seen Cham savoring a bite of his favorite food when ration drops finally came through. He had seen Eleni dance to an old beloved song on the radio. But he had also seen Hera pretend to fly through the galaxy. She was the one Howzer could still save, the reason he was here. Jaw set, he stepped to the shield, watching the Syndullas through the strange red glow.
Cham spoke first, as Howzer had known he would. He always liked to set the tone of a conversation, and had no patience for waiting while someone else decided what to say. "So this is the side you've chosen?"
The searing burn of frustration swiped through Howzer's gut. Did they think he had chosen to serve with Rampart? To fight against the people he had grown to respect so highly during his time on Ryloth?
"Look, you both attacked an Imperial convoy," Howzer replied, trying to keep his tone even and impartial. Getting emotional wouldn't help anyone. "What did you think would happen?"
"Taa gave us no choice," Eleni said, lifting her chin. The haughty pose was belied by the pain in her eyes and the imploring undercurrent of her voice. "We had to protect Hera."
Did they still not understand? Howzer glanced to either side, checking for any sign of an Imperial trooper or officer down the hallway. If they had even a single reason to suspect him, Howzer would be killed. Not decommissioned, though that would probably be worse... but he may feel differently when he was staring down the barrel of a blaster.
When he was reasonably assured of privacy, Howzer moved as close as he could to the ray shield without getting shocked.
"That's what I'm trying to do," he said lowly, letting the urgency in his body bleed into his voice. "Admiral Rampart's squad is out there looking for her. She's in danger. So please, if you know where she is, tell me. I'll protect her."
"Like you swore to protect Ryloth?" Cham asked with a scoff. "We trusted you, Howzer. I won't make that mistake again."
The last bit of hope left Howzer's soul. That was it, then. Howzer had tried, but it was pointless. Rampart would find Hera, use her against her parents… or worse. But Cham didn't forgive, and he certainly wouldn't put his daughter's safety in the hands of someone he didn't trust. It was a lost cause, and Howzer had fought more than enough of those over his few short years of life.
Just as he was turning away from the ray-shielded doorway, Howzer paused. Without glancing back at the Syndullas, he said distinctly, "General Di and Commander Keeli."
"What did you just say, clone?" Cham bit out sharply and Howzer flinched. Cham had always said that calling a trooper 'clone' was offensive and dehumanizing. Howzer hadn't believed that until now. Eleni stiffened by Cham's side, but didn't speak up on Howzer's behalf, either.
No matter. "You talked to me about a Jedi general, General Ima Gun Di, who gave his life and those of his men to ensure your people escaped a Separatist attack. You talked about their bravery, their sacrifice… their loyalty."
"And your point?" Eleni asked.
"You two trusted clones with your family's safety once before," Howzer reminded them, voice steady. "I'm asking that you do that once more. I may be on the opposite side of this shield, but we are not on opposing sides."
Eleni glanced up at Cham as Howzer did the same. He distinctly remembered the first time the freedom fighter had mentioned General Di and Commander Keeli. It had been just after a minor victory, during a celebration by the people of Ryloth. Cham had raised a toast to the victory, and asked everyone to remember soldiers both living and fallen.
"Who have you lost, sir?" Howzer had asked, innocently. Naively.
And Cham had explained about the Separatist occupation of Ryloth, how he had worked to free the people and almost paid the ultimate price for it. He spoke of the general and commander with tears constricting his voice. Howzer had never thought of anyone outside of the GAR remembering a trooper's sacrifice, much less being so moved by the memory.
He was pulling on that emotion now, pleading that it would work. If Rampart's squad found Hera before he could… Well, Howzer had heard the gossip from when they had found Saw Gerrera's camp. There was a very real chance that Hera wouldn't survive this.
"I know you feel I betrayed you," Howzer said when Cham stayed silent. "But I mean it when I say that Hera is in danger. If she gives Rampart any trouble, he'll let his men kill her and claim that she was never found. And we all know exactly how likely it is that Hera will let them capture her without problems.
There, a ghost of a smile on Cham's face and a warmth on Eleni's - though they were naturally buried under a flood of worry and fear.
"Don't let General Di and Commander Keeli's sacrifices go to waste," Howzer told them. "Don't let every sacrifice we've made here go to waste. Because that's what it would be to all of us, me and my men included. If we manage to save Ryloth but lose Hera, we haven't really won."
And that's what it would be - a failure. Howzer and his men had been uncertain of how to react to the strange, inquisitive young girl who had followed them around, asking a million questions. She was so full of life. Hera had managed to keep a sense of wonder about the universe that no clone trooper ever had, but having her nearby had given them a chance to appreciate what childhood could be, even in the middle of a galaxy-rending war.
"Please," Howzer requested, only one step away from begging. "Let me help you. Let me help all of us."
Cham was silent, eyes flicking back and forth across the space in front of him. Howzer recognized the signs of a man in deep thought and stayed quiet as well.
Finally, Cham lifted his eyes to Howzer's, jaw set with some strong emotion. "I don't trust you, Howzer. I don't think I ever will again. But I know you and I know you would never intentionally let harm come to Hera."
He sighed, glancing back at Eleni. She gave a small nod and he nodded back, facing Howzer once more. "I will do what I can to help you."
The relief Howzer felt was so strong, he felt as though he could fly.
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