Chapter 6: Meeting Count Dooku
Third Person
The Confederate shuttle landed on Count Dooku's destroyer. A commander droid approaches the shuttle. The boarding ramp drops and the doors slide open. A Roger marches through and positions itself beside the ramp, E-5 blaster at the ready. However, the commander droid tilts it's head wondering where the commander is. Roger goes back inside the shuttle only to see the commander twisting and turning around his seat saying random numbers. Roger decided to lift his commander over his shoulder and proceeded to drag commander Rommel out.
Rommel's POV
My eyes slowly start opening again. I looked around in shock. I thought I was in the shuttle, not on a confederate frigate. I got up from the floor, and I looked around to find Roger. I finally saw Roger beside me. I asked "Roger, mind telling me where I am"? Roger simply says "You are now on Count Dooku's frigate, and he wishes to speak to you." "Alright, where is he"? "He is right behind you." I turned around at the new voice and I saw the count. He is wearing a black long sleeve shirt and dark pants only the rich can wear. Something way above my pay. Count Dooku is an older gentlemen. His facial hair is a ghastly grey and his face has very notable sharp features. A sharp nose and a very pointed face. He says "Commander Rommel. I understand you have captured two heavily defended cities within a day, yes." "Yes I.." "I also understand that you became invisible off of a Emir Wat Tambor's surveillance" "Yes" "And I am also aware that you were a Republic commander before the war." I spluttered at that piece of information. Not many knew of my origins accept a few people...and many of them are dead. I responded "Yes." Count Dooku walks around me, pacing around the deck before coming back to me. "I see...so you are not afraid of speaking out about your previous heritage and you show excellent skills in battle despite becoming invisible on the battle map." "Sir, might I ask what the point is in interrogating me"? "And incredibly blunt and straightforward...excellent, I require men like you." I looked at the count in confusion "Sir"?
"Commander, I am telling you that I am promoting you to general due to your past experience in warfare and on the fields of Ryloth has also helped prove my confidence in your ability." I was stunned, I was getting promoted to general. Normally, I would be ecstatic but I'm a bit skeptical about this position. "Sir, out of curiosity, are you promoting me to general because of the lack of skilled strategist or because of my previous record in serving the Republic." Count Dooku looks back at me and said "Both, the confederacy must have more skilled strategist due to the mass shortage of them as well as reward you for your good efforts on Ryloth and the time you served the Republic."
Okay, I was not expecting an answer like that. I looked at him and he was holding a small metallic box with a brass star inside it. "General Rommel, you better sew on your new brass markers. I have new orders for you." I saluted proudly as I used my left hand to take the box. I ordered Roger to follow me while we head back to my quarters to sew on the new rank. Though I still wonder...why?
Several Minutes Later
I got out of my room somewhat rested and happier. Happier because of the promotion, still tired because of the lightning attack across Ryloth and the new rank. I walked through the slightly dark corridors of the frigate. So far it sounded so peaceful and I decided to take the longer way to the bridge. I kept passing droids that always stand out of the way guns in salute. After a few minutes, I made my way towards the bridge of the ship where Count Dooku was standing at the deck staring at hyperspace. "General Rommel, reporting for duty sir." I said saluting. "Excellent, general,we have received word that Rodia is considering defecting to the Confederacy. However, many of the commanders and generals are required at the front, however due to your victory on Ryloth, you managed to free up enough of our forces for General Grevious to prepare for his assault. I am ordering you to act as security for Nute Gunray on his mission to Rodia. Think of it as your well deserved rest." I nodded happily "Thank you count Dooku, this would be a very nice change of pace."
Rodian space, 0745 hours, 14 Centaxday
Third Person
As Rommel's shuttle landed on Viceroy Gunray's ship, the general took the time to look around on how organized the droids were. The droids were working very efficiently and could not help but smile at their progress to get things done. Rommel headed towards the bridge to see the viceroy.
Nute Gunray's POV
I was in the middle of a holo link with Count Dooku about my request for better security. Suddenly the blast doors opened and out appears a man, no a general. He is a very young man with short ivory hair, a sharp face with a small yet sharp nose. His left cheek has been scared which was his most notable feature.
He approached me with one hand raised for a handshake "It is a pleasure to meet you viceroy, I am General Rommel of the 7th armoured division. I will be in charge of your security detail." I couldn't believe it, Count Dooku actually spared one of his officers to help me. I quickly said "One moment please." As I turned around, I looked at the hologram of Count Dooku and said "Thank you my lord for sparing one of your officers." "Yes, his accomplishment on Ryloth as well as his service to the Republic will help you viceroy in every way he can in order for your mission on Rodia to succeed. Do not disappoint me viceroy, and especially, do not let my general be captured." Then the image of Count Dooku was gone. I turned back around to my guest and I raised my hand to meet his and we shook hands, "My apologies for keeping you waiting general, I am Viceroy Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation. I can assure you your time here will not be wasted." He smiled back at me saying "Excellent, I would of been bored otherwise. Good luck with your mission to Rodia." I smiled back "Thank you general, I express my good fortunes on you for keeping me safe." He smiled and turned away towards the droid barracks. Then I received a holo link from Onaconda Farr. Seems to me I have caught myself a meddling senator from Naboo, who had been a pain to my side for so long.
Rodia, 0800 hours, 14 Centaxday
Rommel's POV
I had been informed that there already was a security detail on Rodia, however I decided to bring some more droids along in reserve should said droids malfunction and can't do their job. The Shuttle landed and Nute Gunray stepped off first with myself behind him. I see six Rodians and two battle droid escorts. The first is wearing a purple jacket and a blue undershirt. His skin colour was a bluish green. The others are wearing a white jacket. Their skin colour was green. They greeted us "The people of Rodia welcomes you viceroy." Just when I was about to return their bow, viceroy Gunray quite rudely said "Where is Senator Amidala"? Wait a minute, did he say senator? The lead Rodians said "Awaiting in her cell, as promised." Okay they did say senator. "Excell.." I cut in "Okay, okay does anyone mind telling me why a senator is imprisoned because I am pretty sure senators can't be imprisoned unless they committed treason." Everyone started looking at me weirdly so I stepped back. Nute Gunray then continued "We best not keep the senator waiting any longer." "I'll run ahead of you, to scout out any potential threats." That was a lie. The Rodian ambassador said "Do you where you're going"? I replied quizzically "I am heading towards the high building with a lot of battle droids present." The Rodian looks back at me "Yes." I nodded and headed towards the prison.
I ran most of the way to the prison. I had to show the guards my credentials before entering the compound and I had to have an escort lead me to the senator. I am quite unfamiliar with a senator Amidala. Mainly because Vorkuta doesn't allow their prisoners any news from the outside. I eventually found the holding cell. I ordered all the droids to wait outside as I will be interrogating the prisoner personally. As the droids left, I entered the cell. The moment I entered I was astonished how beautiful she was. It was if I was staring at an angel I hear space captains talk about. She has a perfectly circular face and her hair was a beautiful brown. Her eyes also match her hair and she gives off a radiance of beauty and grace. I glanced at her for a while before saying "Hello, I am General Mason Rommel of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. It is a pleasure to meet you despite the circumstances." She says nothing and continues to stare at me if she is trying to read through me. I continued "Might I ask what planet you represent senator because my knowledge of some current events have been...limited, therefore I would like to know." She still stays nothing, albeit a little confused. I decided to elaborate "You see I was raised and born on Coruscant." At the moment I said Coruscant, she blurted out "What"! "Yes, as I was saying I was born on Coruscant and." Before I could continue, senator Amidala said "Why? If you are born on Coruscant, surely you would be loyal to the Republic. Why did you betray the Republic." My eyes twitched a little, and she saw it and the senator prepared for the worst. However, I am not one to hurt women. "Senator Amidala, I promise I won't hurt you and if you answer my questions, I can arrange for your freedom...now let's start with question number one...What planet do you represent"?
She looks at me as if I had grown a second head "What" she spluttered. I replied "I said what planet do you represent"? She said in disbelief "You have got to be kidding me." "Unfortunately not, you see I...had trouble trying to keep up with the news, so I need help to keep up." She said "Naboo." I looked back slightly surprised "Really"? She looked a little taken aback "Why do you ask"? I decided to elaborate "You see, you are a very...how do you say...beautiful woman and...well I never expected such a beautiful woman to be a senator." She frowns so I decided to say "Not that I have anything against it, it's just...surprising that's all." I gave an apologetic smile to her seeing I might have offended her. She still frowns and my smile starts failing before she demanded "If you were born on Coruscant, why did you betray the Republic"? I sighed probably wishing I never said that. I debated in my head if I wanted to tell the senator everything. I decided against telling her everything and just tell her something small. "Senator Amidala, I had served the Republic for ten years. I had given my life to them and in exchange, the Republic in its infinite wisdom put myself and many of my comrades in chains while those that protested were immediately silenced. Our crime...serving the Republic with all our hearts. If that is not betrayal, then what is"? She looks shocked at what I said. She replied back in a hopeful voice"General, listen I didn't know about this, but I know that if you were to return to the Republic now, the Supreme Court could pardon you for your defection and you could help us win the war against the Separatist. If you were to come back to the side of the Republic, we could end this war and bring peace. If you release me and help me arrest Viceroy Gunray and bring Rodia back to the Republic, the Supreme Court will pardon you. You could return back home and fight for us. You won't be seen as a traitor anymore."
I looked back at her with as much ferociousity as I could make my eyes. I immediately took off my officer's cap and I ranted "The Republic pardoning ME...what makes you think that! The Republic broke us, they used us, and when we used up our usefulness they threw us away! The Republic told US that they would help our families if we served. We volunteered, we gave away our blood, and when we got back...oh ho ho, when we got back did you know what they did"! The senator looked slightly terrified. I normally would of stopped and apologized, but my anger got the best of me. "THE REPUBLIC STRIPPED US AWAY FROM OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FREEDOM, OUR JUSTICE, AND OUR RIGHTS"! That brought me to an immediate stop as I realized I spoke to much so I covered my face with both hands.
After a few seconds of sitting, I looked up and saw the absolute shock Senator Amidala's face was in. Her entire face was filled with shock, pity, sorrow, and shame. Before she could say anything else I quickly picked up my hat and moved towards the door. I said to her with my face half turned to her "That is why I can't go back to the Republic. That is why I fight against the Republic. I can never go back...ever since then," I said more quietly and sorrowfully "I can never go back." Just as I was about to leave, she said "It's not too late. If you were to go back with me, I'm sure the Republic will give back..." I interrupted her quietly but loud enough for her to hear "I am sorry senator...but the answer is no. I already have been betrayed once. I don't need to have my hopes up only for it to be broken down again." After that I shut the prison doors leaving behind the senator in her cell.
Padme Amidala's POV
Few Minutes Earlier, Rodian Prison
I just can't believe uncle Ona would betray the Republic. I guess I was too late in coming to Rodia. If only I would of came sooner than I would been able to have Rodia stay in the Republic. Alright Padme, you can do this. First I need to find a way to escape. I looked around the room to see if I can find anything to break open these shackles. Unfortunately, I couldn't move very far to see anything that's out of place. I also didn't want to create noise in the cell or else my "guards" might get suspicious. I continued to look until I heard more clanking from battle droids and then I heard a new voice. "I want all of you to wait outside, I must interrogate the prisoner...alone." The droids all acknowledged him and left. My cell door opened and I saw a Separatist general come in. He is about my height, maybe a few centimeters taller. He is wearing a dark green officers cap with a dark green officer's uniform to match it. His sharp face has a scar on his left cheek.
He looked me up and down as if he was a doctor examining a patient. He looked for another minute before saying "Hello, I am General Mason Rommel of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. It is a pleasure to meet you despite the circumstances." Okay, I never realized how polite he is. I thought that by his exterior features, he was a criminal. However, he spoke very smoothly and gracefully. But I can't be too sure. He could be a con man so I said nothing. He continued on "Might I ask what planet you represent senator because my knowledge of some current events have been...limited, therefore I would like to know." Okay, now I am confused. First, he greets me as if I am a guest, now he tells me he doesn't know who I am. Just who is this guy? "You see, I was born and raised on Coruscant." What! He's from Coruscant, and decided to betray the Republic! "What"! I spluttered out in shock. He replied "Yes, as I was saying I was born on Coruscant and." I interrupted partly through his sentence "Why? If you are born on Coruscant, surely you would be loyal to the Republic. Why did you betray the Republic." I saw his eye twitch a little in anger. I quickly turned my face away from him, closing my eyes, and tensing my muscles in an attempt to dampen the blow. But it never came. General Rommel said in a sad voice "Senator Amidala, I promise I won't hurt you and if you answer my questions, I can arrange for your freedom...now let's start with question number one...What planet do you represent"?
"What" I am still completely baffled. I was a former royal queen of Naboo, and I fought against the Trade Federation when they invaded. How does he not know me. He replied "I said what planet do you represent"? I can't believe it. This has got to be some kind of weird, twisted game this separatist was playing with me. "You have got to be kidding me." He looks at me sincerely and said "Unfortunately not, you see I...had trouble trying to keep up with the news, so I need help to keep up." I looked at him before huffing. I decided to tell him seeing as it can't hurt me much "Naboo." "Really"? I looked at him in confusion. He looks surprised, I better ask "Why do you ask"? He looked slightly nervous at answering. I glared at him "You see, you are a very...how do you say...beautiful woman and...well I never expected such a beautiful woman to be a senator." Okay, so he was just complimenting my beauty. Why am I not surprised. Not that it matters now.
I wanted answers from him. "Not that I have anything against it, it's just...surprising that's all." He gave me his most innocent smile, probably thinking I took offence to his comment. I better ask, it's now or never "If you were born on Coruscant, why did you betray the Republic"? He looks down, biting his lip, as if he is in an internal struggle debating whether to tell the me his reason. He thought for a while before answering, slowly and sorrowfully "Senator Amidala, I had served the Republic for ten years. I had given my life to them and in exchange, the Republic in its infinite wisdom put myself and many of my comrades in chains while those that protested were immediately silenced. Our crime...serving the Republic with all our hearts. If that is not betrayal, then what is"? I was astonished on how the Republic repaid him, a soldier. I assumed Former Chancellor Finis Valorum had something to do with this. Finis must have sent him to prison. Sometime during his imprisonment, he must have been rescued by the Separatist and he felt his loyalty belonged to them because he felt the Republic betrayed him. Now everything is making sense now.
If I could convince him to return back to the Republic, I can help restore his faith and mend his broken wounds that he endured during his unjust imprisonment. I said "General, listen I didn't know about this, but I know that if you were to return to the Republic now, the Supreme Court could pardon you for your defection and you could help us win the war against the Separatist. If you were to come back to the side of the Republic, we could end this war and bring peace. If you release me and help me arrest Viceroy Gunray and bring Rodia back to the Republic, the Supreme Court will pardon you. You could return back home and fight for us. You won't be seen as a traitor anymore."
He looks up at me with anger and hatred in his eyes. His betrayal must have taken away something or someone close to him. He was far more hurt and I failed to realize how his faith in the Republic had been so severely shattered, and I was going to pay. He immediately took off his officer's cap and ranted "The Republic pardoning ME...what makes you think that! The Republic broke us, they used us, and when we used up our usefulness they threw us away! The Republic told US that they would help our families if we served. We volunteered, we gave away our blood, and when we got back...oh ho ho, when we got back did you know what they did"! I started trembling, hoping that the General would see, hoping he would calm down. Unfortunately, he was so full of rage, I might have aggravated him even more. "THE REPUBLIC STRIPPED AWAY OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FREEDOM, OUR JUSTICE, AND OUR RIGHTS"! I expected him to keep ranting about how the Republic took away everything from him, however he didn't. I looked and I saw him with both hands covering his face. I was completely shocked. I felt that this man had suffered unjustly and I am ashamed that I didn't realized that this happened earlier. Here, I see a man broken, sad, and everything he believed in was crashing down all around him. I see someone that has absolutely nothing to lose and the only thing that's keeping him from falling is his thirst for vengeance.
Before I could say anything else he quickly picked up his hat and moved towards the door. He said "That is why I can't go back to the Republic. That is why I fight against the Republic. I can never go back...ever since then," He said the last part more quietly and sorrowfully "I can never go back." Before he leaves, I tried one last time to convince him, one last try to help him realize that it's not too late "It's not too late. If you were to go back with me, I'm sure the Republic will give back..." He interrupted me before I could finish. He said very sorrowfully "I am sorry senator...but the answer is no. I already have been betrayed once. I don't need to have my hopes up only for it to be broken down again." After that he shut the prison doors leaving me behind.
I looked down, almost on the verge of tears. I know he wasn't giving me the full story, but I felt his pain for recounting even those small details of his betrayal. I can not believe that Chancellor Finis would go as far as detaining his own soldiers. I knew he was an incompetent leader, seeing how he failed to move when the Trade Federation invaded my planet, but to go as far as taking out potential threats was new to me. I just can't believe he would do that. And the way he said how the Republic promised to help his family for his service only to be stabbed in the back was really hard on him. I didn't see any ring on him to show he was married, but there is no way to be certain. His family must have suffered for ten years and they could be mourning for him, if the government told them of his death. I just can't do anything to escape anymore, I just can't. Not until I calm down. If I could escape and convince Uncle Ona to rejoin the Republic, then I can trap Nute Gunray and General Rommel here. Then I can try another time to convince him to come back to the Republic, another time to convince him to return back to his family.