Chapter 11: Razal Wulf

Murkhana

A thunderous metallic gong sound echoed through the trees of West Murkhana Memorial Park. The yellow white Murkhana Gulls took flight, scattering through the palm trees with angry squawks.

The Ardennian scratched his head, blinking incredulously as the large bronze likeness of Count Dooku rolled on the ferrocrete. The crowd of Murkhana residents and POWs stood idly by, many looking at Sey'les to gauge her reaction.

Despite being on Sey'les's side, Wulf found himself also staring at Sey'les, wondering what could have possibly come over the Bothan. "Sey'les…"

"Oh, it's cognitive dissonance," Sey'les growled cautiously and quietly, leaning in close to Wulf's ear. He cringed slightly as hot puffs of air tickled his lobe. "It's what Vasa Ro'val said once… Like, someone has a state of beliefs inconsistent with their actions or decisions."

"Uh huh," Wulf replied in a worried tone, pulling away slightly and turning to face her. "Ro'val? Your old psychiatrist?"

"Yeah," Sey'les nodded. "I am causing these Separatists to experience a cognitive dissonance. They were loyal Separatists but now, now look at them! What type of loyal Separatist pulls down a statue of Count Dooku?" She grinned. Her fur danced vibrantly as she flashed her teeth.

Normally, Wulf found Sey'les attractive when she acted super excited and enthusiastic about something. This time though, he found it more than a little bit scary. Speaking of actions that are contradictory with beliefs… The Ardennian found himself turning back across the bay, towards Murkhana City.

"This will, well… You'll see," Sey'les beamed. "This occupation will go so much smoother than the last one."

Wulf turned back to Sey'les, looked into her eyes and blinked. No… It's not so much that I have a problem with Tarkin killing Pax. Hell, he can kill the whole Corporate Alliance for all I care. He ordered us to round up civilians and prioritise them in rounds for executions, with Koorivar Fusiliers and Corporate Alliance people first. Presumably, all civilians were going to be targeted if things escalated. Sey'les ignored that order…

...And she looks okay with ignoring the fact that Tarkin is otherwise going through with it.

"Sey'les," Wulf croaked, then licked the roof of his mouth to moisten it. "Sey'les?"

The ashy furred Bothan was walking away. A Clone in one of the LAATs was gesturing over to Sey'les.

"Sey'les," Wulf yelled, jogging after her. "I have never known you to just passive-aggressively ignore a problem. You are always direct. When you don't like something, you confront it. I don't like this. I don't—"

"—Ensign, I don't like your tone," Sey'les snarled, not turning back. "And I am not always direct!"

"I—I know—That's besides the point ma'am!" Wulf stammered, chasing after her. "I don't know what Tarkin's endgame is, but there is no way you are okay with this. There's also the Jedi—"

"—Don't even start it!" Sey'les yelped, turning to face Wulf. "If the Jedi are going to have a problem with Tarkin, that is going to have to be between them and Tarkin! It is just going to have to be between them!"

Wulf paused, trying to work out what Sey'les had meant. Just going to have to be between them? "Sey'les, what is going on?"

"A unauthorised departure?!" Sey'les gasped the moment she stepped aboard the LAAT.

"Yes ma'am," the Clone answered. "Unauthorised launch from Pax's house."

Wulf froze. After they had cleared Pax's house, Itoll had been left in charge of the remaining search and gathering of evidence. If Itoll launched…

"Lieutenant Oc'skar!" Sey'les yelped into the comm. "I know that is you! We are pawns! Patsies! If you confront Tarkin it's… It's their endgame."

"—Frankly ma'am," Itoll scoffed, "I am disgusted with you. You are—"

"—Lieutenant Itoll Oc'skar, I have given you a direct order to return! If you do not return at once I will report you for insubordination!"

"Insubordination? Ha!" Itoll's voice mocked. "Tarkin is killing people. Civilians. All in some twisted plot that the Spynet knew would happen, but used to their advantage."

Sey'les leaned into the radio. "If you don't kriffing turn around right now I—SHTAK!"

"He terminated the line ma'am," the co-pilot said apologetically.

"KRIFF IT!" Sey'les yelped, raising her wrist-comm to her snout. "Fojo, Dub, Dubs, Grath, Knot, on my position now! Captain Sid?"

"Yes ma'am?" a Clone voice asked.

"You are in charge until I return. Keep the civilians safe. Let them return home before sundown."

"Uh, copy that. I did not think we were authorised to leave our sector. Before sundown? How long will you be?"

o.o.o.o.o

Zuro Pax

The turbolift doors opened to floor 304. In cuffs, Pax sighed. This was oddly one of the only times he had ever entered Argente Tower from the ground up.

As he was led into the hallway, his heart began racing. Along the wall he saw first one body, then another, then dozens. Despite their disfiguring blaster burns, he did not see one body he could not recognise.

By the time he stepped over Sskov's body, wearing white Apex Security armour, he found himself struggling against the restraints, fighting the Clones in sheer panic. His plan suddenly seemed so futile.

A cold ruthless laugh echoed down the hall. The same middle aged human he had seen in the video footage approached, standing before him with four Clone commando units to all sides.

"I never thought you would surrender yourself!" Tarkin gasped, laughing once more.

The Clone to Tarkin's right, in grey and orange armour cocked his head curiously.

"I'll be damned," Tarkin snorted, then gave a tsk tsk tsk. "Proven incorrect!"

Pax gulped. "I know. I know everything."

"If you think I will spare your life, merely because—"

"—I know you're a Sith Lord!" Pax screamed, struggling more intensely. "You're working with Dooku! It's—" He momentarily slipped out of the Clone's grasp and charged headlong into Tarkin, head-butting the human in the stomach.

Tarkin stumbled backwards with an angry oof.

The next second, Pax was screaming, yelling angry curses as the Clones tackled him then pulled him up to his knees. "You killed hundreds of beings who surrendered! It wasn't enough to start this war—This whole war started with mysterious intel coming from Tarkin!"

To Pax's astonishment, the Clone in grey and orange armour turned to Tarkin. "Governor, I think we should spare Director Pax. It would be in the best interest of the Republic to find out everything he knows. It is not often—"

"—You believe him?!" Tarkin hissed. "This story—This story is absurd! A Sith Lord?! Are you aware of what the term 'Sith' means, Clone?"

"HOW THE KRIFF DID YOU GET HOLD OF A SEPARATIST PAL?!" Pax shrieked, struggling to stand. "KRATAA IS YOUR REAL NAME ISN'T IT TARKIN? YOU THINK YOU ARE SO SMART NAMING YOURSELF 'DEATH' DON'T YOU?"

Tarkin's angry expression mellowed slightly. He raised his left eyebrow in genuine curiosity.

Pax shook his head in confusion. There was something he was missing, a piece of the puzzle… Tarkin was a part of it and had seemed genuinely confused and concerned at Pax's claim. "You…" Pax gasped, stammering in his Duros drawl as he suddenly realised what it was that Tarkin must know. "You know who the Sith Lord is? But it isn't you? Come on then Admiral! Enlighten us! Enlighten us all!"

"I believe I have learned all there is to know of this topic," Tarkin muttered, drawing his blaster.

"But sir!" the Clone protested. "If it is true that a Republic insider is working with Count Dooku, surely that would be of greater consequence than whether this traitor dies! This is… We can't, think of—"

"—Under the powers vested in me by the Galactic—"

"—You son of a bitch," the Duros said bitterly, narrowing his eyes angrily as he looked Tarkin in the eyes, speaking over Tarkin's nonsensical oaths and the Clone's protests. Tarkin is working with the Sith. I just told Tarkin that who he is working for is a Sith.

"When the Jedi find out they will bring you back to Coruscant!" the Clone yelled. "There will be no—"

"—I'll see you in hell. Tarkin, you plague!" Pax drawled at Tarkin. "You actual sithspit piece of—"

Pax never got to hear any more reasons the mysterious Clone in orange and grey armour had for him to live, nor the rest of the various powers and duties vested in Tarkin by the Galactic Republic which he was lawfully carrying out.

At 1538 Murkhana Eastern Standard time, 14:4:29 GrS, Wilhuff Tarkin carried out the execution of Zuro Pax, bringing Order 37 to its first endgame.