Chapter 13: Razal Wulf

Murkhana

"So why are we all here again?!" Fojo yelled incredulously over the roaring engines of their LAAT flying at maximum speed.

Sey'les's ears batted with annoyance.

Wulf frowned at her. It is a good question.

The Bothan's puffy shaggy fur seemed to fall and press into her body, making her seem much smaller. "I—You're the only ones I can trust."

"To get Itoll?" Wulf asked incredulously, glancing to the Clones. "And you trust all of us?"

"I… Yes," Sey'les growled firmly, nodding to the Clones. "We need to get Tarkin. This situation has gotten out of control."

"What do you mean by get?" Dub asked crossly.

"Relieve him of command and place him under arrest," Sey'les sighed, fur still flat. "Then we need to contact the General, calmly explain the situation to her. Calmly."

Relieve Tarkin of command… He might not like that. Wulf locked his jaw tightly. Wait… Calmly?

"So that's why I am here," Fojo snorted.

"So… What?" Sey'les growled in a confused tone.

"How does that explain it?" Wulf asked the Rodian. "You should be running the medcentre down there. No sense in bringing a medical officer to arrest an admiral."

"Are you two…" Fojo looked incredulously from Wulf to Sey'les. "Respectfully, ma'am, did you not think of this?"

"Think of what?!" Sey'les yelped. "I am at my wit's end! Itoll has gone to take matters into his own hands, breaking protocol… Well maybe sorta following protocol but sorta breaking it. I don't know what anyone's endgame is. Civilians are dead. We are going to have to run this planet and there will be SO MUCH blowback from what Tarkin has done! It was inexcusable… Completely insane!"

"Exactly," Fojo agreed with a nod. "You need me to evaluate Tarkin's mental health and declare him medically unfit, as a medical officer."

"Oh…" Sey'les growled thoughtfully. "No, I didn't think of that."

Fojo sighed despondently.

Wulf stared at Sey'les. Something the Bothan had said made the gears in his brain start to turn. Breaking protocol… How is any of this following or breaking protocol? "Sey'les, what do you mean by Itoll broke protocol?"

"I um…" Sey'les gulped, then looked towards the cockpit. "How long until our arrival?"

"You were right, ma'am," the co-pilot said. "Itoll Oc'skar is headed for Argente Tower. We'll be there in fifteen."

"Ma'am," Wulf said insistently. "You did not answer my question."

"I would like to know too ma'am," Dub added, "respectfully that is."

Sey'les let out a nervous exhale of air. "Kriff it. We're all risking our lives. I suppose it's only right for you to know."

"Right to know what?" Wulf asked nervously, scratching his head.

"Eight months ago," she croaked, "when Tarkin had us attack Bothawui, I was compromised. So was Itoll."

"Compromised?" Fojo gasped.

"I do not like where this is going," Knot muttered wearily.

"Well, I was compromised before then," Sey'les growled cautiously. "I never would have hurt any of you. But, when I was a Judicial, I wrote up psych evals on every Jedi Master I worked with. I… I sold them to the Spynet."

Fojo chuckled cynically "is that news to any of us?"

"Holy shassa," Wulf croaked. "Sey'les—You—How could you?!"

"Wulf, I didn't see the Spynet as enemies," Sey'les stammered pleadingly, grabbing his lower two hands.

After using his upper hands to pull Sey'les's hands off, Wulf stepped back, grabbing a handgrip further away from her.

"Wulf... Please..."

"So Sey'les is a traitor," Dub noted. "I guess we shoot her then."

"NO!" Sey'les yelped. "Please, I didn't—"

"—We're not shooting Sey'les!" Wulf yelled, stepping between Dub and his Bothan. "We're just…" he looked back at Sey'les, who smiled at him reassuringly. "Never trusting Sey'les again. Ever."

Knot started protesting "but Order 37 gives us authorisation to execute—"

"—You know Order 37 is unlawful," Wulf said firmly. "And you're not hurting Sey'les."

"It's unlawful not to give enemy POWs quarter," Grath said. "The Red Sigil Convention doesn't say anything on spies or traitors."

Wulf's lower hands twitched towards his blasters, but since the Clones did not move their hands towards theirs, he kept his a few inches away. "We'll turn Sey'les in when we sort out Tarkin. The way I see it, whatever Sey'les has done, she is rectifying some of it."

"And," Sey'les whimpered, "I never viewed the Spynet as the enemy. I never viewed what I was doing as treason. I mean, I knew it was intellectually, but we weren't fighting my people so I never… I never viewed the Spynet as the enemy, not till eight months ago at least."

Wulf had cringed at first when Sey'les started her pathetic excuses. But by the end, her statement piqued his curiosity. "What happened eight months ago?"

"Buzz—Captain Buzz, he's a Bothan somehow. Spynet deep cover operative. Maybe he's not actually a Bothan but was raised by my people, I don't know. But after we attacked Bothawui, he put bombs in me and Itoll, and… He started having us do things. I got Itoll involved. He wasn't working for the Spynet before I accidentally dragged him in."

"BUZZ WHAT?!" Wulf gasped. Sey'les's and Itoll's mysterious injuries. Getting transferred units. It suddenly dawned on the Ardennian. That's why Itoll was acting so funny. That's why Itoll hit Buzz with a sign.

"Sey'les," Fojo spoke quickly, grabbing her shoulder. "Where is the bomb?"

"Oh they… They got deactivated on MGX-93776. The hypermatter explosion fried everything. I am okay now, it's—"

"—I am going to kill Buzz," Wulf said firmly. "Buzz will not breathe another day."

"Oh, so it's okay to kill Buzz then, is it Ensign?" Dub asked sarcastically.

"I am sure… I am sure Wulf means only if Buzz refuses to surrender," Sey'les said shakily.

No I do not mean that, Wulf thought, but he nodded anyways reassuringly. This whole thing is so kriffed up. Selling Jedi profiles… Maybe they suspected it… Maybe that's why Prococia, Kev, and Suldor acted so strange. Maybe—

"—That's it," Wulf said firmly, coming to a snap decision. "I am relieving Sey'les and taking command. You can accompany us, and your behaviour will influence what we decide to do with you. I am tired of you not telling us what is going on, and frankly, I believe you but at the same time… I don't trust you."

Sey'les sighed sadly.

"If you want me to help, I am in command," Wulf repeated himself.

"That sounds reasonable," Fojo agreed. "I second Wulf. You are relieved Sey'les. We get Itoll, get Tarkin, sort this out with Jazal. Maybe it's not a happy ending, but one we can all live with."

"Ensign," Dub said testily to Wulf, "I outrank you."

The Ardennian had not even considered that. "Well, I am 240 in Clone Years, and can kick your ass any day of the week. This command structure is so kriffed and—Frankly, I think we all stand a better shot with me in charge."

"You're 12 in Clone years," Fojo corrected in a hushed whisper.

"I agree," Sey'les said firmly. "Wulf should be in charge. No offense, Dub."

"I don't," Knot yelled. "Last time you were in charge, I broke my leg and we were all injured."

Holy hell you are bringing that up again! That was a year ago. And who would've known that garbage, falling off a bridge, could flip a speeder?

"I know why Sey'les is really backing Wulf," Dubs said darkly.

"And why is that, Trooper?" Wulf asked, folding his arms. He expected the Clone to reply with something both incorrect and baffling.

Instead, Dubs said "because you are secretly fraternising with her."

Dub, Knot, and Grath gasped in scandalised shock. Fojo laughed uncontrollably.

"I saw them with my own two eyes!" Dubs yelled. "On MGX-93776. In the mud behind the juggernaut! It was gnarly. I didn't even understand what I was seeing at first. Wulf and Sey'les were naked. At first I thought—"

"—Guys," Wulf yelled, feeling hot with embarrassment, "we need to focus. If you Clones can't follow my orders, stay here and leave Tarkin to us."

"I can," Dub groaned wearily. "But if this ends up like last time. If we get hurt from your stupidity, I… I will tell Jazal."

"Fine," Wulf grumbled, spinning to Sey'les. "Sey'les. You haven't told us what we are up against, what is going on, anything. What do we need to know? What did the Spynet have you do related to Tarkin?"

o.o.o.o.o

"What the hell is wrong with you people?" Wulf huffed, glaring at Sey'les.

"I had nothing to do with coming up with the plan!" Sey'les snarled. "That's not fair Wulf."

"You really think Jazal is just going to kill Tarkin?" Wulf sighed angrily, shaking his head. "You Bothans really believe that if you get Jazal, Takin, and Pax in a room together, it'll be just like two Sharnafs locked in a cage with a Corellian hound? That nature will just run its course?! A 'confluence' really? More like a stupid plan!"

"It wasn't my idea!" Sey'les yelped in panicked embarrassment. "It was Vasa Ro'val's! Wulf, I am not that stupid! I think they really want to get me killed too. That's why I didn't want to follow through with the plan—why I didn't want to behave expectedly."

"For kriff's sake! Trajan Kran? Nebhir? Skor II? All of that was some Spynet kriff-head's idea!" Wulf yelled exasperatedly. "And you just went along with it, letting them string you along for the ride!"

"Yes," Sey'les growled nervously. "I think we should tell Itoll to wait."

"I don't like this," Knot said with suspicion. "What if, by going into the room, by relieving Tarkin, we make the confluence work out?"

"I don't like it either," Wulf sighed. Not for that reason… "But Sey'les is right, we can't just ignore Tarkin and pretend this didn't happen."

"Tarkin is a monster and he needs to be exposed," Fojo added with a nod.

"I can't wait to see the look on Miralo Tarkin's face!" Dubs said excitedly.

Wulf exited the conversation, stepping into the cockpit. Seeing Itoll's LAAT lower in front of Argente Tower, he spoke into the radio. "Itoll, wait a sec. We have got your back. Sey'les told us everything. About Buzz being Spynet. About you two working for the Spynet."

"She did?!" Itoll gasped in shock.

"Have your blaster set to stun," Wulf ordered firmly. "No need to turn this into fratricide." The Ardennian clenched his fists as his thoughts shifted to Buzz.

No need to turn this into fratricide. With maybe one exception.

"Working for the Spynet," the pilot grumbled under his breath.

"What is the Spynet sir?" the co-pilot asked, turning his head to Wulf.

o.o.o.o.o

Their LAAT landed next to Itoll's directly on the courtyard in front of Argente Tower. The nearest group of Clones were a few hundred meters away, beyond the walls surrounding the tower. The situation in Murkhana City was far worse than Wulf had imagined.

"Holy shtak!" Sey'les hissed in a whisper, looking around at lines of bodies up against the courtyard wall. "They just shot them and left the bodies… These people couldn't all be Corporate Alliance."

"No, they couldn't," Itoll agreed, sniffing the air gingerly as he looked around. "I think we can put a stop to this. Stun Tarkin, maybe capture Pax and clear this whole thing up."

"Yeah," Wulf nodded, stepping out behind Sey'les. "Those were our thoughts exactly."

"None of you are authorised to be here," a Clone said, emerging from the ground floor entryway to the tower.

Wulf reached for his blaster, ready to stun the Clone but Fojo casually walked right in front of him, whipping out his datapad as he approached the Clone.

"Ensign Wulf has declared Tarkin unfit for duty, acting in place of Tarkin's second-in-command Lieutenant Commander Lir Sey'les," Fojo said, "and I signed off on it."

"Ensign?!" the Clone gasped. "Declared an Admiral unfit?! An Ensign declared an Admiral unfit? You must have really big—"

"—I agree," Sey'les growled, fur swirling. "I mean, I agree that Tarkin is unfit for duty."

Wulf stared at the back of her neck for a moment, fighting the urge to play with the moving fur.

"Then why didn't you sign off on this?" the Clone asked with suspicion.

Itoll sighed, shaking his head as he checked his blaster's energy levels.

"I uh…" Sey'les gulped. "Well, you see—"

—How about you don't make this even more contradictory and hectic, Sey'les? Wulf shook his head as he stepped up to the Clone. "Corporal, we're going up the turbolift. We are going to temporarily relieve Tarkin of duty and re-establish communications with General Jazal. We are all in agreement, including the Clones. Those bodies—This Order 37. It is not normal. You can try to stop us if you want. All six of us."

"Uh yes," the Clone guarding the entrance stammered, stepping out of the way. "It is not normal. Not normal at all. Best of luck sir."

"Thank you," Wulf smiled, walking into the lobby.

Half of the ceiling lights were shattered, and many that were intact flickered. The Ardennian looked around, regarding Itoll, Sey'les, Fojo, Dub, Dubs, Knot and Grath. In the flickering light, they all had eerie deathly shadows.

"That was smooth," Itoll growled in an impressed voice.

"No it wasn't," Fojo snorted. "It was like a bully telling you how it is."

"Guys, cut the chatter," Sey'les growled cautiously. "This is serious shtak."

Normally, Wulf would have wanted to thump Fojo for that comment, but he was again preoccupied. In the dim light, Sey'les's fur looked quite a bit darker. It reminded him of that Wookiee she used to have a relationship with Woshyrryagh. The gifts… The fur drying pad… Her other Wookiee ex, Archumagh, was also involved in some serious Black Ops stuff… He died attacking this city.

The turbolift chimed and the automatic doors opened, letting Team Muun through. It was much more brightly lit than the lobby.

"Sey'les?" Wulf asked, narrowing his eyes with suspicion.

"Yeah?" Sey'les asked back.

"Were you a Wookiee spy too?" he asked sternly.

"I am not a spy," Sey'les growled cautiously.

"That really doesn't answer my question," Wulf muttered.

"Wulf, are you also going to be surprised to find out Sey'les kriffed Woshyrryagh?" Fojo snorted.

Dub let off a whistle.

"I—I it's over between me and Woshyrryagh," Sey'les stammered.

"Sey'les, I—"

—Itoll began yipping with laughter. "Holy shtak Wulf! I can't—AHHH!"

Wulf grabbed Itoll's chestplate and shoved him into the turbolift mirror with a thud. "I know Sey'les was intimate with Archumagh, that's not what this is about! Got it?"

"EVERYONE CALM DOWN!" Dubs screamed. "We are stepping into totally unfamiliar territory. Tarkin has been killing civilians. We all saw the bodies outside. We focus and stay on mission until this is over."

"Dubs!" Sey'les yelped angrily. "Wulf is in charge."

"Dubs is right," Wulf grunted, letting go of Itoll. "How many factions were you working for?"

"Wulf, it was just the Wookiees and the Spynet," Sey'les sighed. "I wasn't a spy, I was a consultant. As I said before, I didn't view the Spynet as an enemy. The Wookiees… They are our friends. They still are."

Our friends? Wulf closed his eyes angrily. "Sey'les, I really don't feel like I know you anymore."

"It's really not like that," Sey'les sighed. "I wasn't spying, I was—"

"—Writing up psych evals on the Jedi and selling them. Probably other stuff too," Wulf agreed bitterly. "This whole situation. I can't believe how blind I've been. How I couldn't see what was going on."

"I wish we never would have been rescued," Sey'les said with a sniffle. "Rescued from MGX-93776. Being isolated from Buzz and Tarkin. Away from all of this shtak. When I thought we could build a house on that muddy hill under the dim red sun… Just forget about these factions who all just want us to kill each other."

Wulf gulped, feeling tight in the gut. He had a growing worry that all of these new revelations would affect the way he felt about Sey'les forever. Things will never be the same. I mean, they might be the same physically, but… "Yeah, me too," he gulped, unable to come up with anything else.

The floor number displayed drew ever closer to their destination. 302… 303… 304.

"All right, heads on a swivel," Wulf ordered, finding the strength to raise his voice. "Blasters set to stun."

"Copy that," Team Muun echoed.