Okay, so I know I said this was going to be the last chapter, but it COMPLETELY got away from me. This was a beast. I'm not super into writing law and justice/trial types of work, so please excuse my shaping the court system into a style that would suit the story better. I am, for real, hoping to get this story completed next chapter. *crosses fingers*
Mistress Malica - Thank you for continuing to follow this crazy little story!
Rabbit887 - Thank you! Honestly, this was one of my favorite chapters to write. I like the idea of Chopper getting along with Kallus. Of course, that doesn't mean the little droid won't play a prank or two on the ex-agent somewhere down the road.
Jaki822 - That is a very good question! Honestly, I kept debating whether Chopper could make something edible. It was a very fun idea to toy with!
Lynn Friedman-kinsey - I'm glad you liked the chapter! Season 4 should be so good...I have watched the trailer like a dozen times! Kallus new hair-do is growing on me.
Moomkin - *SQUEALS* Three cheers for Kallus fanfic writers! I've been absolutely adoring your Kallus fanfics!Oh, and thank you very much for the reviews! Yeah, Kallus is such a stubborn son of a gun. The whole time I was writing I felt like giving him a good shake and making him ask for help, but that's just not how the story wanted to go. As for Kanan using the Jedi mind trick, I've been trying to include the different members of the Ghost in the story as best I can in a somewhat natural way. I know, we all have our favorites, but I have a tendency to simply forget about characters unless I make the effort to include them, and I like that crew vibe (hence a Chopper chapter!). And finally, I'm glad you're excited about this Rebel Court chapter. Honestly, it nearly killed me. I'm not sure I did it justice at all, but here it is!
Dragunz - Thank you for that very kind review! Kallus has been very interesting to write for. I only hope I can keep the flow going now that I'm veering beyond season 3. I'm glad you've found the writing here. Season 4 is still a long ways off, and there are some really great stories that can help tide you over during that wait. There are some truly amazing writers and fans here. Welcome!
Kallus had never seen porridge of quite that, shall we say, consistency. Tar like mounds were surrounded by pools of oily, liquid ooze and the color was, well, grim. He'd considered rejecting it on the spot, but Chopper was watching him so intently that he decided to brave the culinary concoction.
He braced himself for the first bite, ready to hold back the retching, but it was surprisingly…good. Though it resembled porridge, the dish had far more of an exotic taste, laced with delicate spices.
"What is that?"
Kallus gave a start, staring up at Hera. She had slipped into the room rather silently.
"Chopper made it," he replied, tilting the bowl so she could get a better visual.
"Oh." Hera flashed a look of concern. "And you're eating it?"
"It's quite good," he reassured her, but she continued to stare at the bowl as if the gray goo would come to life at any moment.
Kallus scooped up another spoonful, and Hera grimaced as he took a bite.
"I'm starting to worry that lump on your head did more damage than I thought."
Chopper instantly gave a string of angry chirps and wheeled toward Hera. The Twi'lek rolled her eyes.
"Of course I don't trust your cooking," she scoffed, "I still remember how sick Ezra was after that last dish you tried to make."
Chopper chuckled and gave a reply.
"What do you mean you meant to do that?" Arms crossed, Hera glared down at the droid.
As Chopper launched into his explanation, Rex entered the common room.
"Hello, Kallus. It's nice to see you up." The clone didn't wait for a reply. Spotting the bowl of porridge, he started for the galley. Rex, apparently, wasn't deterred by the off coloring of the food.
"Yes, I know…" Hera sighed, her patience with the droid obviously wearing thin. "He did lock you in a crate during the last mission, and he may have forgotten you in there, but that was an accident."
Chopper's sharp reply clearly indicated that the droid, in no way, believed it was an accident.
"Well, Ezra said it was an accident and…"
Another severe tone of disagreement sounded from Chopper.
"Fine," Hera huffed. "It wasn't an accident, but no more poisoning crew members. That's an order!"
Chopper gave a groan.
The whole scene was really rather captivating to watch, and that is exactly what Kallus did as he quietly continued to eat his breakfast. He'd only given a short pause from eating upon hearing how the C1 unit had purposely sickened the kid, but he decided that he'd already eaten too much of the dish for it to matter. If he was going to get sick, he was going to get sick.
Emerging from the back, bowl in hand, Rex raised an eyebrow. "Who was cooking? The galley is practically destroyed, but this gruel is really good."
Chopper's celebration over the praise of his dish was short lived.
"Get back there and clean up your mess," Hera snapped. "And fix anything you broke!"
The C1 unit sped toward the galley, paused, and then slowly wheeled back to the table. Staying clear of Hera, Chopper gave a few quiet chirps and pointed at the empty bowl before Kallus.
"No, I don't think I need more," Kallus answered. "That was quite filling and very delicious. Thank you, Chopper."
The little droid gave another low beep, and Kallus carefully handed it his empty bowl. Then, Chopper set off for the galley again, giving Rex a low growl as he passed by.
Kallus turned back to find Hera, wide-eyed, mouth agape, staring at him.
"Chopper…" She looked from Kallus to the galley. Already a horrible clatter was sounding from the room. "Chopper actually likes you."
Okay, that stung a little. Kallus shrugged, unsure of how to respond.
"That didn't come out right," Hera muttered. "I meant, well, Chopper doesn't really take to anyone. I'd be surprised if he liked anyone who came aboard not just a…" She trail off and then snapped her mouth shut.
"An ISB Agent," Kallus finished.
"Hey," Zeb grumbled as he entered the room, "that's ex-ISB Agent. You're on our side now."
The sentiment was nice, but Kallus hardly believed the crew of the Ghost had the authority in the Rebel Alliance to make that call.
"When do I go before the Rebel Court?" No one seemed eager to answer Kallus' question.
It was Hera who finally spoke up.
"When you're ready, they will convene. The committee panel is eager to get started, but, perhaps, you should visit base medical first and…"
"No," Kallus said. "I'd rather get this over with."
The room went silent, and Kallus couldn't help but notice the worried glances Zeb, Rex and Hera exchanged. Already, he missed the easy banter that the morning had held. How nice it had been to have a glimpse into what life aboard this crew was like. It was certainly different from the Empire, but not as uncomfortable as he thought it would be.
"I'll let the panel know you're ready," Zeb sighed, "but, for the record, I think you should rest up a bit longer. This process…well…it's not going to be…uh…easy."
Kallus nodded. "Thank you, Garazeb. I suspected as much, but I think I'm ready."
"I told you to call me Zeb." The Lasat turned for the door, muttering one soft 'karabast' as he departed.
Another loud crash sounded from the galley.
"I'm going to go check on Chop," Rex sighed. "Or, more importantly, I'm going to go check on the galley."
Alone with Syndulla, Kallus felt the urge to thank her for all she had done, to apologize for his errors, for his past with the Empire, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, it was Hera who spoke.
"The Rebel Court will question you and listen to testimony from witnesses for two days–when they are not in session, you will be sequestered and kept in a central building on the base. They have chosen a panel of representatives from the Alliance to review the testimony and judge your character. At the end of the second day, they will give their verdict. As for the members of the panel…
"Fae Saas, a Mon Calamari, is slow to speak, but she may ask very direct questions. Out of all the members of the panel, she will be the most likely to ask questions about your time as Fulcrum. She is thorough and fair.
"Stromgald Sypikne, human, will have little mercy in his questioning. He lost his family to the Empire long ago, and he is not easily convinced of a defector's loyalty, but he can be convinced. He has in the past.
"Tomas Dryer, human, is a slight enigma. Much like the rest of the panel, he has served in many Rebel skirmishes. He lost an eye during an ambush, trying to infiltrate an Imperial supply line.
"Tril Treep, a Rodian, will not ask you questions directly, but he will be extremely vocal when the panel deliberates.
"Tadia Hentz, human, is known for prodding, blindsiding inquiries and a knack for mentally draining those she questions.
"And finally, Rin Proga, human, is an up and coming Rebel fighter pilot. He is brash and will most likely be bored and fidgety during the sessions. I haven't a clue as to how he found himself on the panel."
Kallus blinked. That had been a lot of information to take in all at once. It was especially so since he hadn't expected it. He couldn't help but feel touched, and rather surprised, that Hera had gone to all the effort of collecting the intel for him.
"If you are ready," she added, "we should get going."
He nodded, wishing he could get a simple thank you out, but she was already on the move.
Kallus rose from the table and followed, glad that Hera's pace slackened as she entered the hall. His leg may have been on the mend, but it still slowed him down significantly.
They made their way through the ship and out into the light of day. Squinting, Kallus noted the ships surrounding them. Many were in the midst of repairs. Sweat drenched Rebels were laboring tirelessly to get the ships back into working order. Most ignored Hera and Kallus, but a few stopped in their work to study the pair. Their gazes and subtle scowls fixed a little longer on Kallus than he would have liked.
As their trek continued, Kallus realized that morning was probably the last time he was going to see the Ghost crew for quite some time. They would, undoubtedly, be departing Yavin IV shortly to aid Clan Wren. In fact, he guessed that if he hadn't been aboard their ship, they would have already been underway.
He stumbled slightly, and Hera turned back, her expression concerned, questioning, but he was quick to wave her on. If he hadn't been so lost in thought, he wouldn't have missed his footing. It had nothing to do with his injuries, but, now, Hera was obliviously worried it had as she slowed their pace further.
The shipyard gave way to buildings, and Kallus could see green swathes of jungle behind the outcropping of dusty structures. These had to have been some of the abandoned Massassi Temples of Yavin IV.
They entered a building, and he felt a wave of relief as the temperature seemed to drop as they proceeded down a long flight of stairs. After traveling a maze of corridors, Hera stopped when they came upon an elderly woman waiting outside a set of double doors.
"Julia, it's nice to see you," Hera greeted and then motioned toward Kallus. "This is…"
"Oh, I'm sure I can guess," the old woman chuckled. "This must be Kallus." She smiled at him, her pale blue eyes sparkling in the dim temple light. "I, my dear, am Julia Lacer, and I will be your attendant for the next two days. If you require anything, food, water, a refresher break, please seek me out."
"Thank you," he replied.
The Rebel Alliance had done well in assigning Julia to him. He knew this tactic. Press a prisoner hard for answers, but provide them with a kind shoulder to lean on outside of the interrogations. Often, they revealed far more to the kind presence than the pain.
Of course, that wasn't going to work here, as Kallus had no intent of holding any information back during the questioning. There would be nothing left for Julia to worm out of him.
"Through these doors," Julia said, "we will find the panel already convened. In the middle of the room, your table is situated. You will find a glass of water and a data pad there. The panel members may ask you to review documents and comment on them. Try to only speak when replying to questions. Disruptions slow the process down and don't paint you in a favorable light."
Kallus nodded. That was good advice, and he would have no issues heeding it.
"If you need a break, look to me. I'll be at the back of the room. The panel members will know what that means." Julia paused. "Are you ready?"
Again, Kallus nodded, not trusting his voice.
Julia swung the doors opened and motioned for him to enter.
The room was not overly large. He'd imagined it would be, but, perhaps, that was because his mind was trying to mirror this to a trial of the same magnitude back in the Empire. This trial would have been quite the spectacle in the Empire. But, the Empire's pomp and ceremony were mere publicity, showcasing how forgiving the Empire was to those who came to their senses and denounced the Rebellion. It was interesting, though, how many of those defectors, long after their trials were over and the public was no longer interested, seemed to disappear.
Kallus stepped forward, finding his table in the middle of the room. He sat, and began to study his surroundings.
Directly in front of him, on a platform, was a table with six individuals seated at it. The panel was just as Hera described–four were human, one was Mon Calamari and the other was Rodian. Name placards sat before each, and he read them carefully, making sure he matched each panel member with the information Hera had provided him.
Next, his gaze shifted to the additional tables, off of the platform, situated to the left and right of the panel members' table. There were people seated at these tables as well. Some kept their eyes averted from Kallus, and others stared openly, hatred evident in their faces.
As he continued to scan the tables, seeing if he could recognize anyone, his heart sank.
Zeb was there. He met Kallus' gaze and smiled, but it was a lopsided, forced thing.
Then, the empty chair beside Zeb was filled by Hera.
No. They should be leaving to help Sabine. They shouldn't be here.
Kallus' heart was pounding violently in his chest, but, for all the work it did, his body felt numb, cold.
He'd been prepared to answer all questions, lay his life open for strangers to analyze, but this…
Yes, the crew of the Ghost knew a lot of his past, but not all of it, and the honesty he was about to present was going to be brutal, damning and painful to admit. Now, it would be all the more so with Hera and Zeb present.
Kallus closed his eyes and took in a shaky breath.
"Let us begin…" a voice called out.
He opened his eyes to find the panel members staring down at him. A few stragglers were taking their seats at the side tables. From the back of the room, Kallus could hear the doors click shut.
Fae Saas, the Mon Calamari, began the questioning. Her cadence was slow, the words drawn out, but each was well chosen and had impact. She asked about Kallus' upbringing, about his life before the Empire. The answers came easily and Kallus felt himself relax slightly as he listened to the Mon Calamari speak.
Tomas Dryer took over after Fae Saas. His focus was on Kallus' years in the Imperial Academy. He often halted Kallus mid-sentence to get some clarification on training techniques or the name or ranks of officers at the Academy. Nothing Dryer asked was what Kallus would have deemed classified or of importance, but getting through his answers with all the interruptions was remarkably jarring. Kallus couldn't help but admire Dryer's talent. This was a good tactic–to agitation him before hitting him with the first intense line of questioning.
Next to question Kallus was Stromgald Sypikne. More than any of the others, Kallus could see the soldier in Stromgald. No, it was more than that. The man held himself with the conviction of a leader, of someone who'd commanded on a battlefield. Stromgald asked only one question, but that had been more than enough.
"What happened to your first unit on Onderon?"
For the first time during the questioning, Kallus hesitated. Somehow, he hadn't considered the fact that he'd have to relive that nightmare here. How, he wondered, had he overlooked that.
Mouth dry, he reached for the glass of water. That simple action was a sign of weakness. He would have taken note of it in any of the prisoners he'd interrogated. After taking a drink and setting the glass aside, he put his thoughts in order. I can do this…
He started by naming the members of his unit. Some, those he considered his friends, he went on to describe in further detail. Realizing he was stating to ramble, Kallus focused on the day of that fateful patrol. He spoke of how the explosion had knocked him unconscious and of how he came to only to witness the brutal deaths of the members of his unit. He explained how Saw Gerrera's mercenary, a Lasat, strolled through the rubble, methodically killing the wounded. Those screams…he could almost hear them again. The terror, the pain reverberating in those sounds was too much.
They all died. Why he was left alive, he didn't know. He still wondered.
Abruptly, Julia called for a rest period. Kallus blinked, realizing he'd gone silent and had been staring blankly at the data pad in front of him. How long had he sat like that?
He glanced up, catching a brief glimpse of worry on Hera and Zeb's faces before they could hide it away.
And then Julia was beside him, coaxing him out of his chair, leading him out of the room and down the hall. Obediently, he followed, glad for the respite from questioning.
She took him into a small room. There was nothing in it save for a single cot. Julia guided him to the cot, sat him down and left, but she returned quickly with two trays of food. She handed one to Kallus.
"I don't like eating alone," she said, sitting down beside him. "I hope you don't mind."
"No, I don't," he answered softy, as he stared at the food.
It was some form of rice dish, with fresh looking vegetables and a hearty portion of meat.
"You should eat," Julia urged.
Kallus smiled sadly. "I don't seem to have much of an appetite at the moment."
"Ah, Hera told me you might feel unwell. She said something about Chopper cooking you breakfast."
He glanced over at the woman, his curiosity peaked. When had Hera told her that?
As if readying his thoughts, Julia answered. "Captain Syndulla was in the hall. She was asking how you were faring. I think she would have preferred to speak with you directly, but…it's not permitted–not until the judgement has been made."
"Are they," Kallus paused, a lump forming in this throat, "are they, Hera and Zeb, going to stay for the entire proceeding?"
"They have been asked to," Julia replied. "I believe Garazeb Orrelios has been asked to speak about Lasan."
"Karabast," Kallus muttered. It made sense that the panel would want to hear from one of the last Lasats.
"I'm curious, karabast, that is a Lasat word, is it not?"
Kallus nodded. "I've heard Zeb say it countless times. I guess it sort of stuck with me."
"You two have an odd friendship," the older woman said, cocking her head at Kallus. "You are troubled about him speaking about Lasan?"
"Yes."
"Why?" She asked, watching him carefully.
"Because I'm ashamed of what happened on Lasan," he replied, and then he realized it was more than that. "And because…I could barely get through telling about the massacre of my unit in front of everyone in that room. How hard will it be for Zeb to talk about the slaughter of his entire species?"
Julia nodded. "That is a good point. Now, please eat your food. We don't have much longer, and you'll probably need a trip to the refresher before we go back."
That was certainly not the reply Kallus had expected, and, though Julia's response bothered him, he couldn't argue it. He should eat, and he did need to use the refresher.
They ate in relative silence after that. Kallus had finished half of his portions when Julia announced they had to leave if he wished to use the refresher.
He set his tray aside, stood and followed Julia down the hall. Without the older woman, he was sure he would have gotten lost in the maze of corridors. Judging by pace Julia set, they were running late, and so Kallus used the refresher as quickly as he could, pausing only a second to get a look at his face in the mirror. His eye looked better, the swelling had gone down, and the bruises on his face had taken on more of a yellow and brown tone with the purple fading away.
When he exited the refresher, Julia was quick to direct him back to the Rebel Court.
They were the last to arrive. Everyone was already seated and waiting.
"If we are ready, shall we begin?" Tadia Hentz sneered, glare fixed squarely on Julia.
Though human, Hentz's aged leather face and beady eyes gave her the appearance of a Talpini, and Kallus was surprised to find her death glare did not have Julia cowering in the least. That seemed odd.
Before he had time to ponder the interaction any further, Fae Saas called out a name, and asked the Rebel who answered to please share their story.
The first named called was that of a young farmer that Kallus had forced from his land. Destitute and desperate, he'd sought out the rebels for help. After the farmer finished his story, Kallus was questioned about the incident.
He'd remembered it well. Rebels had been traveling across the farmer's land when they made raids on a nearby Imperial camp. Kallus had seized the land to beef up the camp's perimeter. The farmer was not offered compensation as he had not done his duty in reporting the rebel activity.
Another name was called, another story was shared, and Kallus was again questioned about the incident. This cycle repeated over and over, but the stories shifted from lost land.
People spoke of how Kallus branded their loved ones as rebel sympathizers, and he had them taken away, never to be seen again. Others told of how supply lines were cut by Kallus, and how their families started to slowly starve. Again and again he was questioned, and he never faltered in providing the truth. He'd done all those things in his hunt for the rebels. He could not deny it.
He could feel himself breaking a little more with each testimony. Once, he'd been so proud of his accomplishments. He'd thought he was making the universe a better place, but that wasn't the case. Each achievement he thought he'd obtained now filled itself in with shame.
Finally, Garazeb Orrelios' name was called, and he was asked to speak about the fall of the Lasat.
Zeb appeared reluctant to say much at all. His version of the event was short, imprecise and obviously incomplete. It was Tadia Hentz who started asking the Lasat questions. Slowly, she got him to relive the fall of his people.
He spoke of the battle, of how bravely his people fought, but they could not hold against the T-7 ion disruptor rifles used by the Imperial Forces. He described what the rifles did to a living being–how those hit by it writhed in pain, their screams of agony echoing across Lasan before death found them.
Zeb's face was strained, pained by the memories, and his voice waivered as he continued to speak of his people.
Kallus watched, wanting to end Zeb's torment, but knowing that interfering would only make the questioning worse. Unable to do anything, Kallus averted his gaze from the Lasat. Instead he focused on the table in front of him.
Zeb told of how he'd been knocked out during the battle and how he'd woken up to nothing but death around him. There was something so hollow and cold in his tone.
Hentz thanked Zeb for his testimony before she set her focus on Kallus.
"Had you seen Garazeb during the massacre at Lasan?" She asked.
"No," he replied, his voice sounding quieter than he'd expected. "It was a big battlefield. I wasn't in that sector."
"Was Orrelios' description of the battle accurate?"
"Yes." Kallus could feel himself starting to sweat. All day, Hentz hadn't been asking many questions, and her eagerness now to address him had Kallus on edge.
"You killed a lot of Lasats that day, correct?" She asked.
"In hand-to-hand combat? Four."
"Four, in hand to hand combat?" Hentz sounded intrigued. "That is impressive, and I heard at least one was a Lasat Honor Guard. You took his bo-rifle as a trophy, did you not?"
"I did not," Kallus replied. "He gave it to me."
"Oh yes," Hentz's voice was too lighthearted. It sounded wrong. "That is the Lasan warrior way–giving up your weapon to a superior foe who bests you. That is quite impressive that an Honor Guard gave you his bo-rifle, but, now, I also have to wonder how many Lasats you killed by means other than hand-to-hand combat."
"I…I'm not sure of the number," Kallus replied. "A lot."
"Hmmm, that's not a very accurate number." Hentz paused. "Maybe we'll get a more accurate number if we ask how many Lasats survived in your sector."
"None–they were all killed." Kallus kept his gaze on the table. A small portion of him was desperate to look up at Zeb. He craved some reassurance, some understanding, but he couldn't bear to witness any more of the Lasat's pain.
"Oh my, you did earn your nickname didn't you, Butcher of Lasan? So, if Garazeb Orrelios had been in your sector?" Hentz asked.
"I would have killed him." The answer came to Kallus without bidding. It was the truth, and yet it rolled out of him in such a way that twisted his stomach. It was that cold, Imperial tone that had edged back into his voice. No, that's not who I am anymore…
He could feel panic set in as his chest tightened and his breathing became labored. Suddenly, Julia was at his side.
"That is enough for today," she declared to the panel.
She took Kallus by the arm, practically pulling him from the room. In a daze, he limped along after her. Soon enough, he found himself in the small room sitting on the cot.
Julia crouched down in front of him. "Look at me, Kallus. Look right here."
He raised his gaze from the floor to stare into her eyes. His lungs ached for a full breath, but the tension in his chest and throat only grew.
"Hey, that's it." She smiled. "Now, concentrate on my breathing. Nice and slow. In and out. Yes, that's right, match me."
It took time, but Kallus finally clawed his way out of the panic that had overtaken him.
"Thank you," he said at last, when he was sure his body was done betraying him.
"It is what I am here for." Julia replied, seating herself beside Kallus on the cot.
"Not entirely." Kallus couldn't be absolutely positive, but he suspected there was more to Julia. "We use the same tactic in the Empire–giving a prisoner a sympathetic shoulder to turn to during their down time between interrogations. It is often…effective. That is partially what you are here for, isn't it?"
Julia shrugged. "We should have known an ex-ISB agent wouldn't be easy to fool."
"Yes, you should have known," Kallus narrowed his gaze at her, "and perhaps you did, but you weren't concerned."
"An interesting assessment…" Julia gave a tight lipped grin.
"When Hentz chastised you for our tardiness, you did not act like her subordinate. You met and matched her ire as a peer. Plus, there has not been a single moment when you've called to the end of questioning that anyone argued otherwise. Even Hentz let you end her rather effective bout of interrogation." Kallus paused, sorting through the information catalogued in his head. "I find it interesting that this panel is comprised of six members, as, if I recall correctly, trials by panel are to be conducted by an odd number of panel judges. After all, even numbers could lead to a split decision."
"What are you implying, Kallus?"
Karabast…he was so tired. Zeb had been right, he wasn't ready. He should have waited and rested up more.
"You are the seventh member of the panel." He answered. "Though unorthodox, it is an interesting tactic. My guess would be that you are in the field of behavioral study, and you are using this extra time to help assess my character and mental well-being."
"You are remarkable perceptive, Agent Kallus."
He grimaced as she used that title.
"I'm sorry, my mistake. You are no longer an Agent of the Empire." Julia stood and walked to the door.
Suddenly, Kallus felt a pang of regret. "Will you…will someone else take your place in being my attendant?"
She looked back at him, soft smile on her face. "No, I think I shall remain, but, perhaps, we won't advertise that you've puzzled out who I am. For now, I'm going to go get our dinner, and then you will get a trip to the refresher to clean up. Finally, you should get a full night's rest. Tomorrow will be another very long day."
He nodded and watched her leave, hoping he could make it through another day without completely breaking down.