Chapter 5: Hidden Secrets
Third Person
Commander Rommel and his droid 'Roger' are in a shuttle heading towards Count Dooku's Munificent-class frigate. Roger, if the droid could feel, was nervous about seeing Count Dooku for unknown reasons, while the commander just slept throughout the short ride to the ship. However, the commander wasn't dreaming of good things. He was remembering the times of his betrayal.
Flashback, ten Months Earlier
Rommel's POV
13:1 AGrS, holo recording of Captain Rommel, Taungsday 29. The Occupation of Kharthakk is coming to a close. In total, we had suffered less casualties in comparison to the Trade Federation's heavy casualties. All the troops are preparing to leave and go home, back to their respective planets. At the beginning, we had 1,000 volunteers from Coruscant including Jedi Master Adi Gallia. Now, our numbers have dwindled down to 225 volunteers throughout 10 years.
"Hey Mason, we're almost home! Get off your holo recorder and come meet us to at the main lobby." That was my friend Woods. He is from Coruscant as well. He told me he lives in the shadier districts in Coruscant. He is a good man, saved my life as well as others during our time together. If I had to call anyone my brother, Woods is my brother. We first met each other when Chancellor Finis Valorum called on the Republic to send troops to fight in the occupation of Kharthakk. He is about my age, twenty or so, he has a mustache and a pointed beard. He has brown hair, human, and an athletic build. We discovered we both liked the same thing. Same bars, same teams on holo ball, and we both felt immense pride and duty in serving the Republic so we both signed up as a volunteer force. "Mason, you're going to miss the light show"! "Alright Woods, I'm coming." Well this is Mason Rommel signing off.
I headed towards the main lobby passing through droids and crew members. I finally made it to the main lobby and apparently I arrived just in time. I found Woods and headed towards him. We greeted each other with slaps on the back. We looked out the window and as we start descending, we saw Coruscant. Our home. Sure, it looks dirty, disgusting, and only the privileged get great houses but it's still our home and nothing can change that. We can not help but smile at the glowing city in the night sky.
I looked around and I saw Jedi Master Adi Gallia meditating. I walked over to her "Master Jedi, we're finally on Coruscant." She opened her eyes and saw me and replied "Thank you Mason, I am glad that the men are enjoying themselves and happy to be returning home from the conflict." I laughed "Well Master Jedi, 10 years of conflict will have that kind of effect on soldiers." Adi Gallia in her smirk said "Yes, I suppose it does." I ended the conversation "Well Master Jedi, from what I am hearing, some planets are leaving the Republic and it might get into conflict. You know who to contact and trust when things get out of hand. But I have hope it won't come to that. Besides, you're a Jedi, I am sure you guys can keep the peace." She responded back "Thank you Mason, I appreciate your support and I hope that the crisis won't escalate." I smiled and turn back before waving.
I headed back to my quarters to get my personal effects before leaving. After the occupation, I bought a small black box. Inside it contained a diamond ring. I planned on proposing to my girlfriend, Skylar once I come back. Skylar is a human, female and is 1.75 metres tall. She has beautiful blue eyes, fair skin, and brown hair that reaches her shoulders. She was the love of my life. We had so much in common and we dated many times. When I left to fight, I promised her, I would return. The only person I told was Woods, and he kept teasing me for days on end. Good times. Today was the day I return and marry her. I immediately put it in my combat jacket and headed out. I stood beside Woods on the boarding ramp preparing to leave. We expected a crowd of cheering people (mainly family), however we got a crowd of police droids. Just when we thought they are here to escort us, which they did for a while. When the Jedi left, the droids started manhandling us. Woods yelled "Hey, what's the big idea. We just came back." The droids responded "By order of Chancellor Palpatine, you are under arrest for attempting treason against the Republic. This time I yelled "What, we were told by the last chancellor that he needed soldiers"! "Sir, you have a right to remain silent, anything you say will be used against you in the court of law." Woods looks at me, "don't worry Mason, these guys must have made a mistake." We sat on the back seat of the police speeder heading to court. Apparently, the other guys from the Coruscant volunteers were there.
As time in the court passed by, the more we realized that it was nothing more than a show trial. We are being accused of crimes such as disloyalty, sedition, plans to assassinate the chancellor and all those kind of stuff. Everytime we protested, our punishment was worsened. The entire time, I was thinking, how could this happen. Chancellor Finis Valorum asked us to volunteer, he asked us to sacrifice our lives all in the name of liberty and freedom, he asked us to protect the Republic with all our hearts, he asked us to do everything for the Republic. I snapped out of my stupor to listen to the final verdict. The entire volunteer force was being sent to the Kessel Spice mines. All for crimes we couldn't have possibly done. Everything we fought for... liberty, freedom, democracy, and justice was just spat back at us and beaten. We did everything for them, and this is how we're repaid! Everything we sacrificed for was for nothing as soldiers like us was forced to go to Kessel.
Several hours later
All members of the volunteer force was beaten and humiliated on Coruscant. Everything we owned were taken away from us. I managed to hide my ring by placing it under my combat boots. Apparently, we were allowed to keep our boots. To add salt to injury, they stripped us of all our rights as Republic citizens and we were forced to dress in prison uniforms. Those that refused were shot. Woods protested and I was just about to join in, when suddenly I heard the deafening sound of a blaster bolt. The bolt hit Woods in the chest. I immediately went over to him. "Come on Woods, come on the blast was nothing, you can still go through this. Just like old times, right buddy." I was nearing tears and my words felt disoriented because of the shock of the sight at my best friend dying. He coughed "Mason, don't lie to me...I can't survive this...listen, I need you to keep moving on...I need you to keep surviving on without me...okay...Mason, I am sorry but this is the end of the road for me...good...bye." He suddenly felt limp as I struggled to comprehend what happened. The occupation we fought, the battles we survived, the friendship we had was all gone in a single blast. I kept saying that he is okay, he will survive in a feeble attempt to convince myself. I was in complete shock as I try to get over the loss of whom I considered my brother.
As the volunteers were forced into the prison ship heading to Kessel, I heard a few swearing at the Chancellor and the Republic for their betrayal. I stayed silent. I just couldn't believe that Wood died just in front of me, and I was helpless to stop it from happening. Throughout the entire ride, I was crying in my loss, angry at the Republic for betraying their own soldiers, and I self pitied myself because of how I could of stopped Woods from dying. As we approached Kessel, I finally got over myself. I walked off with my head low, walking off the boarding ramp. I kept walking until we were told to stop at the courtyard. I looked up and I saw something that just ripped a hole in my heart. I expected a fat and corrupt prison warden, however, the man that stood there was not a prison warden. The warden is a 2.36 meter tall Besalisk male. He stood tall showing his full height in an attempt to intimidate us. Normally, it wouldn't surprise me, but his outfit is the most surprising. He wears robes of a Jedi and he also carries a dual bladed lightsaber. The weapon of the Jedi. I think to myself, trying to convince myself that there is no way he can be a Jedi. "I am Jedi Master Krell, however, you inmates shall refer to me as head warden." Too late, he is a Jedi. Maybe if we convince him that we were soldiers loyally serving the Republic, we could change his mind. "I knew all about your involvement during the Occupation of Kharthakk. Though I might say I am impressed, you are still criminals and therefore you must be treated as such." Never mind, with that kind of arrogant mind, there is no way to convince him. "You are here because you were planning to betray the Republic, you are here because you do not DESERVE the right to be considered citizens of the Glorious Republic, and you are here because no other criminals like you have ever done something as serious as rebelling." There goes any chance at freedom for us. "All of you, get to your quarters, and by the way...Welcome to Kessel's biggest prison...Vorkuta"!
As we marched off to our quarters, the hand of our Jedi warden slammed on top of my shoulders. "Not you, I have plans for you" said Krell giving me a evil smirk. He then knocks me out with a powerful chop to my neck. By the time I woke up, I was underneath a doctor's lamp with three faces. The face to my right was Pong Krell. The other two I didn't know, so I decided to listen into their conversation. One had a long neck and had grey skin and the other was a human with pointed blond hair. The long neck one said "Jedi Master Krell, the subject has been successfully implanted with the knowledge to translate the numbers sequence." "So-what is the problem doctor"? Replied Krell. "His responses to our orders have been - sporadic. Unpredictable. He shows remarkable resilience." "Why"? " He is unusual...atypical. Few men possess such will...Our other test subjects have been far more successful." Krell responded back "If he will not follow the orders embedded in the numbers, then he is of no use to us...He can rot. Take him back to his cell."
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