Chapter 4: Gree

Confusion, hurt, and betrayal. Three emotions that raged through his mind as he gazed upon the blue transparent figure of the Emperor on his comm unit.

Why would the Jedi do this? I trusted them, I trusted her! She was my best friend!

Betrayal ripped through him at the thought of his general betraying all of them. General Luminara Ulundi was his general, who fought and bled with him, as well as his closest confidant. He trusted her with his life, and now she'd betrayed him.

He was standing in the outpost; with its commanding views of Kashyyyk, behind him stood General Yoda, along with wookies Chewbacca and Tarfful. Gree was nearly ready to aim his blaster carbine and open fire upon the three figures, however a thought stopped him. He remembered back to the conversation he'd had with the Mando intelligence agent, Regulan, in which the agent pleaded with him and his brothers to think before they acted. Gree knew he should think over what had just happened rather than act on emotions, which at this point, were still raging through his camouflaged armored body.

Getting control over his emotions, Gree took a figurative step back. He remembered that in his close conversations with General Ulundi, the Jedi, along with the Misfits, had theorized that a Sith had infiltrated the Galactic Senate, and would use such political power to their advantage. Thinking back to the call he'd just received, Order 66, exterminating the Jedi, mental pictures of Ulundi being blasted to death by her own men formed in his mind. Closing his eyes at the thought, Gree pondered the recent turn of events.

Could I really bring myself to kill her?

Almost immediately following his mental question, another, more sinister question remained to be answered.

What if it would be beneficial for the Jedi to be killed? An obstacle taken out for a larger goal?

Something was up; suspicion began to ebb its way into his mind. Something about this executive order was wrong. He'd known Ulundi was with his own Captain Draa, somewhere on this planet. He could only hope his trusted captain thought along the same lines as he did.

He had no time to wonder however. To his right, he could see a fellow trooper turn to face the small green Jedi Master. He too had witnessed the call, and he planned on following orders. The trooper leveled his blaster at the back of the small life form, preparing to blast away.

The Jedi Master reacted instantly, jumping towards the trooper while simultaneously igniting his lightsaber, Yoda cleanly decapitated the trooper, his headless armored body thumping on the wooden floor. Gree stood still with shock at what he'd just witnessed. The little green Jedi glared at the commander of the 41st Elite Corps as if silently daring him to attempt a similar maneuver.

Before Gree had

any chance to reply, a furry hand was clamped around his throat, and he was lifted off the ground. Gree began to sputter and gag underneath his helmet, as his windpipe was squeezed closed. Through the loud rushing of blood through his head, he faintly heard Captain Draa report that Ulundi was alive but injured. As Gree's vision inched closer to darkness, he felt relief that she would live, even if he did not. Gree waited for the welcoming darkness, but it never came.

"Release him you will Tarfful." Gree faintly heard General Yoda order. The wookie gave a questioning grunt, but the hand around his throat was gone in an instant. Gree fell towards the floor, crashing in a heap of armor; the commander tore off his bucket as he gulped air into his throbbing lungs. As his vision returned, Gree noticed a small three fingered hand upon his shoulder, looking down to length, his eyes came to rest on the wrinkled green face of Master Yoda. "Feel the light side within in you I do Commander." The Jedi said with a small measure of confidence. Gree looked at Yoda before responding. "Yes sir. These orders seem suspicious." At this Gree paused, seeing Yoda nod he continued. " I mean sir, you and General Ulundi have given so much for the Republic, you wouldn't so readily betray to system you've fought millennia to protect." The Jedi Master gazed into Gree's hazel eyes.

"Right you are Gree. Played for fools we are, strong the dark side is. Destroy the Republic, their goal is." Yoda replied.

That got Gree's attention, which was suddenly shattered by a wookie's howl. Looking in the direction of the sound, Gree stared in stunned shock as Captain Draa walked into the outpost, General Ulundi with an arm around his shoulders, her eyes closed in pain. Gree put on his helmet and rushed over to the pair.

Checking her vitals, Gree determined that they were okay, but not healthy. " Luminara can you hear me?" Gree waited for a response to his question.

"Gree", was all Luminara muttered before she whimpered in pain, her arm tightly clutched around Draa's shoulder.

Gree turned to Yoda, and with his commanding voice began to speak. "General, we need to get you and General Ulundi off world. While Captain Draa and I haven't obeyed orders, many other of our brothers have. It is no longer safe for you here, you must leave." Yoda seemed to contemplate the commander's comments for a second before nodding in acceptance. With the swiftness of a Jedi, Yoda climbed up Chewbaccas arm and rested on his shoulder. The two wookies marched out, Captain Draa and Luminara Ulundi followed. Bringing up the rear, Gree checked his blaster one last time, ensuring that he had a full charge of bolts. Gree silently promised to blast down his brothers if it meant protecting the small group.

As Yoda stepped into the small pod's cabin, he turned around, facing Gree and Draa.

"Honorable beings you are. Smart and quick witted the both of you. Honored I am to be in your company. When the time comes, no doubt I have that you two will make the right decisions." With that the door of the pod closed, and the object blasted off into the atmosphere, carrying Yoda and Ulundi to safety.

Gree's gaze remained fixed towards the sky.

I will never let you down Luminara. Gree's thought alight with a fierce protectiveness.

Gree thought on what the future would hold. No doubt some of his men had reservations about Order 66. For now they would play their part, and remain loyal to the new Empire, but when the time comes, they would show where their true loyalties lay.

With that thought in mind, Gree and Draa began their long trek back to their men.