The ride down made Brook's stomach lurch. The generator that powered it was new, but the rest looked ancient to Brook.
So he kept close to his brothers, concentrated on his area of sight instead of the creaking of the wood under their feet and the swinging ropes of the lift.
"So, are you convinced I am an evil bastard yet?" Vau asked over closed channels. His voice held an edge, the question opening up a potential minefield of answers, so Brook weighted his answers carefully.
He had no doubt that the men would throw him over the edge of the lift if he disliked his answer enough and the way down was still pretty long.
Brook decided to go for the thing that everyone on Kyrimorut seemed to honour the most. Honesty.
"Yes." He said. "But I believe you have got your reasons."
There was a small pause as Brook stared into the inhospitable leaves of the big trees as something moved. It seemed to be a smaller avian, so Brook continued.
"If Sev survived this it will have been due to your training. He knows nothing except for the things he has been taught, none of us do."
There was no answer for a moment, only quiet breathing coming from the other men. Given time Brook should have been able to judge a person's mood and state of being only from this sound, but he lacked the experience and knowledge of Valon Vau to do so.
Finally Walon spoke up. "It is when we find him. And there is more to you than I thought."
And that was it. He cut the com and both of them switched back to the team channel.
It was a quiet trek through the jungle. Few things moved. Fixer took up the rear, walking backwards slowly while Vau led them over the swampy ground and through the thick fog.
They heard things moving, darted around, but the animals kept to the edge of the clone's sight, never did more than dart away when the group came too close for their liking.
It was very real to Brook that they were the intruders here. They should not be here and he found himself promising something, he wasn't sure what or whom, that they would leave as soon as possible.
Finally they reached the remains of delta's last battle site. The rest of the squad grew very sombre and Brook forced himself to keep up with them. This had been the last place where the clones had seen their brother alive.
The jungle had begun taking over the place already. Brook leaned towards one, briefly distracted by bright yellow of it's leaves and the deep red of the stem. Scorch huffed and pulled him back by the rucksack. "Don't get close to it. things find even Trandoshians tasty. It surely wouldn't say none to a tasty morsel like you."
For a moment Brook thought it was a joke, but something in Scorch's tone told him the clone was truthful this time. Scorch rarely joked about death related things, at least when it concerned his brothers.
The pretty flower with the big leaves drew Brook 's attention.
As he reached out to brush a carefree finger across the bright yellow leaves ,glowing against the dark brownish green of of the never ending twilight of the jungle, a hand grabbed his shoulder plate and wrenched Brook back with enough force to nearly wrench his paldron off.
"Moron" Valon swore just as the pretty flower mapped shut, nearly taking Brook's right index finger with it.
"I just hope I raised my boys to be smarter than that. " He grumbled even ors Brooke stared at the flower that had dosed, seemingly chewing on air, but Brock was very much aware that without the old Sargent it would have been him stewing in the plant.
"Thanks. "He forced out, trying it keep his churning stomach acids where they belonged.
"I hope Sev didn't try to go near that." He forced out as well, which everyone in the group ignored.
He just focused his mind on his job, firmly keeping his eyes on their surroundings ,keeping his brothers rate while they kept their roars lore to the ground, Droning every secret the swampy ground held out of it.
It seemed like ages until Vau straightened up and growled- ''too - much time'' he sighed," too much time has passed. We will have to do this the old fashioned way."
The youngest member of the group hollowed in silence on the others moved forward confidently.
He followed them, walking backwards while rearming his HUD. Ii still made him disoriented at times, but right now the adrenaline was enough to keep his stomach halfway where it belonged, or so Brook hoped.
Even for a Spaarti there were few things more disgusting than painting your own bucket from the inside.
He opened a channel to the next brother in the group. " What is the old fashioned way Scorch? " He asked.
Then was static for a moment behove the done in the yellow armour spoke up . "We walk around in circles, getting bigger and bigger until we pick something up. " Was the answer.
"And then the easy part is over and the fun things begin."
" Fun things?" Brook echoed, his mouth suddenly dry.
"Sure, or what did you think the escape plan was ?"
Scorch chuckled, the sound scaring Brook more than the nightmares of his old life. The young clone decided not to ask. He would get the info when it was time.
After that he switched back to the whole squad, even Vau.
As Scorch had said they walked in circles, slowly getting bigger. It was disorienting to walk backwards and just as Brook was ready to ask one of his brother to take over Vau at the head of the line froze.
His fist snapped up; Brook sank down to one knee.
They held still, fog floating over the thick roots of the trees. Almost Brook would have asked what the older men had seen, almost. Then he saw them. The rest of an imperial squad. He held still, quietly scanning the area.
''Not the job of an animal. " Bas muttered as he waved Scorch over to circle the area.
''Ambush...'' the clone in the yellow armour said.
Vau nodded. '' True. He got them hard and fast. First the loner at the back, probably for ammunition and then he nailed the rest."
Where Boss inched closer to get a better look " Seems recent.'' Brook was very happy to stay where he was.
Even as he stared with the highest concentration into the muddy frown peen of Kashyyyks lowest level
Brook saw the next group only moments before they emerged.
''Hostiles. '' Was all he could hiss.
If was almost surreal as the imperials waded out of the fog.
''Halt." Sounded the loudspeaker sounded. ''What do you want here?"
Valon shifted ,one knee proud to the ground, hands flat on his thighs.
"It's not illegal to wander around here. It may be stupid, but not illegal." Started Scorch.
Vau's helmet snapped around, Brook could practically feel the glare directed at his brother. "We are just looking for a friend." The older Mando started.
He was cut off by the imperial.
"We say what is illegal around here and what not. The likes of you are not welcome here. If your friend has anything to do with this." He waived at the dead patrol.
"I have enough evidence to take you in."
An arrogant sneer raised Brook's hackles. He knew that tone, had heard it just before his old captain had ordered his, Brook's brothers to shoot him on that cliff.
His hands tightened around his deece, breathing evening out, feeling the memories of all those hours on the shooting range with his brothers.
Today was not back then, today was very different. His brothers were on his side, and they needed him in the here and now.
"I can take out the two on the right." He commed to Vau. "Armour is sloppy work."
Silence, the imperials stood apart from each other, guns in hand, but relaxed.
They were sure of the safety their status gave them. No one would attack the imperium.
"Go." Vau ordered.
Or so they thought.
The clones were fast. Weapons snapped up, lasers obliterated the greenery around the imperials.
Brook aimed at the first, shot went straight through the seal at the neck.
He snapped the muzzle of his deece to the right, finger tightened on the trigger again, but his second target was already moving.
Adrenalin rushed through his veins. Brook pulled the trigger, but the imperial leapt forward. He was only clipped, rolled over one shoulder, and another blue shot finished him.
"Nailed him. " A deep voice rumbled.
"Damn." Brook swore, straightening. The rest of the imperials was already down, his heart pounded, fingers trembled. He could feel the cold sweat forming on his brow.
So he looked around, carefully biting one lip, half expecting to be chastised by Vau for failing to take the second imp out.
Nothing came, instead the squad was focused on a new figure.
Deece's were gripped tightly, adrenaline still running high from the shoot-out.
Rags clad him, horrific scarring seemed to be everywhere Brook could see skin, only the face of the man was free enough of injuries to identify him.
Boss lowered his weapon, a light gasp sounded through the speakers in Brook's helmet.
"everyone, stand down. Looks like we found him."
"More like I found you vod." The other clone growled. "Tell your shiny that with the way he waves that deece around, it's no wonder I had to finish off that second one."
"Good to see you." Scorch quipped. "It's your job to teach him when we get back Sev." Before slinging his deece over his back and practically tackling his brother to the ground with a gleeful shout.
A.N.:
So, an extra-long chapter this chapter this time, hope you like it :)
Here it is, one of the last chapters, but not the last one yet. They still have to get back to their ship and off planet. I am sooo looking forward to writing those.