Chapter Sixty-Five: Carnage of Krell

We were stripped of our armor and weapons, any withholdings I had now gone to the wind. I'd snarled and shrieked, hurling curse after curse towards the pompous Jedi. But in the end, my beskar was peeled away as I looked away, ashamed.

We were bound, our hands tight behind our backs in cuffs designed for Jedi and Sith alike-there was no using the Force to get out of those. The brig was circular in design and beneath the ground, meaning that each level had its own cell.

I shared mine with Jesse and Fives, both looking rather disheartened. I sat in the corner, steaming silently over my lost gear.

"Relax, Kida," Fives chimed gently. "We knew a court-martial would be waiting for us. But Krell's just threatening us to get in our heads. General Skywalker will help us out of this once it's all over." He leaned lazily against the cell wall. "For now, we wait for our brothers to finish the mission." He glanced at me, lifting his shoulder. "And Rex will be fine. He knows how to handle himself." I knew that. That didn't mean I wouldn't worry.

I swallowed, but said nothing. The Force was moving darkly on this planet and even more so around Krell. I'd sensed a feeling of mystery when he'd first arrived, as well as felt the darkness ripple when his anger rose. But when we'd entered the command room...it was like stepping into a pool of ink.

Even below ground in our tiny cell, I could feel the darkness that moved around the General above. But there was something different this time. Not just his general black demeanor….but there was the essence of death. Like how the Force moved around one who was about to kill.

My senses prickled when I felt Rex approaching the brig. He seemed….more than worried-which was a feeling I was getting used to sensing on him. Instead, he felt….terrified.

I stood abruptly, hearing the hydraulic doors hiss open somewhere high above us. The sound of the elevator engaged. "Something's going on," I announced quietly, watching as the two clones moved closer to the ray shield at our door.

Through the blue tint, I watched the armored feet of fives clones appear. As the elevator descended further, it revealed Rex, accompanied by guards. My heart dropped when Rex wouldn't meet any of our gazes.

Finally, the captain looked at us, his helmet at his hip. "Fives, Jesse." He swallowed, glancing at me. "Kida. I'm sorry. General Krell has ordered your execution immediately."

My head fell back gently to rest against the wall. I was confused by my own reaction while I listened to Fives and Jesse protest angrily. I was angry. Engraged, even. Enraged that Krell would do this and that he could get away with it. I was sad that I wouldn't be seeing Rex again. Or feel his arms around me. I'd never get to feel the beat of the music vibrating across my club's bartop again. I'd never wield the lightsaber I'd become so fond of again.

But I wasn't afraid.

"He can't do this!" Jesse yelled through the ray shield.

"He has authority to render punishment during combat," Rex sighed, defeated.

Jesse didn't accept that. "I can understand a court-martial and locking us up in the brig. But executing us?"

"I tried to convince him that it's my fault, but he wouldn't let me." I stared at Rex from behind his brothers, my gaze not giving any emotion away. Then again, I wasn't really sure what I was feeling. Sadness that he wasn't fighting for me? Understanding why he wasn't? Pity that he felt he couldn't choose?

So I said nothing and stood with my eyes on the captain. Thinking. Meditating. And trying to memorize every sharp line of his face so I could maybe remember him when I was gone. When I was….one with the Force, as Bendu had stated.

"Rex," Fives pleaded desperately, "You have to face it. He's been using you. He needs your loyalty to control the others."

Rex glanced down before sighing sadly with a shake of his head. He stepped back, the other clones coming forward to disengage the ray shield. "I won't let him get away with this." Hmm. It seemed he already had.

"Eh, don't beat yourself up about it," Fives tried, walking out of the cell with Jesse.

One of the guards turned to me, pointing his blaster at me. "Let's go." I said nothing, fixing him with my best icy stare that I'd perfected over years of bounty hunting. I stepped past without a word, standing beside Jesse."

"We made our choice," Fives continued, "We knew what the price was."

Jesse cast him a look. "Yeah, speak for yourself."

Fives only chuckled, still trying to keep the mood light. "Still got your sense of humor, I see."

"He wasn't joking," I whispered softly, earning a surprised look from Jesse. They all seemed to understand eventually though-I'd felt it.

Fives glanced at the transparent elevator floor as we began to rise. "Well, then I guess this is it."

"For the record," I spoke again, my voice quieter than I'd intended. I glanced sideways at Fives, finding his eyes boring into mine in search of some kind of comfort. "I'm honored that my last mission was flown with you. And that it was doing something against authority." I grinned, looking forward as the lift slowed at the ground level. "It feels very…." I couldn't find the words.

"Fitting?" Jesse tried sadly.

I hummed in approval of the term, but my humor died as we were escorted out into the darkness of Umbara. We rounded the corner, seeing a line up of 501st soldiers, including Tup and Kix. Dogma marched in front of the line proudly.

"Line up the prisoners," he called towards us as we neared. I scowled. It was a firing squad.

"Well," Jesse tried this time, terrified, "I've officially lost my sense of humor."

I felt Rex swallow beside me, my eyes cutting sideways stealthily to see him look up. I followed his gaze to see Krell looming above us in the command tower. He was watching….

Still, some of Rex's anxiety seemed to be coming from elsewhere, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I reached out a bit more to touch his mind with mine, but he recoiled, building a wall between us. My mouth pulled into a frown, but I said nothing.

I was separated from Rex in the next moment, lined up with my back against the base of the tower between Jesse and Fives to look at our firing squad. None of them were wearing helmets. I wondered if Krell did that on purpose, so that we could see the eyes of the men we trusted and loved before they pulled the trigger.

Dogma walked towards us. "Will the prisoners request to be blindfolded?"

Neither of the clones beside me spoke, merely glaring at their brother. I had literally nothing to lose and I'd had enough of his arrogance. And to be honest, I was going to die with some damned dignity.

"Blindfold lo'shebs'ul narit," I hissed at him with a snarl.

Dogma wrinkled his nose at me. "I'll take that as a no." He turned and walked back to stand beside his firing squad.

"I hope you can live with yourself, Dogma," Fives grumbled after him, his voice darker than I'd ever heard it before.

Dogma didn't respond, standing beside Rex as they regarded us. "Ready weapons," he called, the troopers lifting their rifles to their shoulders. I cast my gaze over Rex's features again, taking in everything about him while also trying to remember his smile. I reached out with my feelings, trying to convey my love. And how, despite all my confusion… I understood.

I didn't blame him for this.

"Never thought we'd go out this way," Jesse said to my right, glancing at the ground between us and our executioners.

Rex looked away from my gaze finally, his hand coming up to his chin in sorrow as his eyes closed. He couldn't bear to watch. "Aim!" Dogma called. I tore my gaze from Rex and stared at the firing squad. I would not die a coward.

"Wait!" Fives cried, everyone's breath freezing like the drops of dew on cold Tatooine nights. "This is wrong. And we all know it. The general is making a mistake, and he needs to be called on it. No clone should have to go out this way!"

I knew he was making a plea to his brothers, so that was the best way. Saying a Sithling bounty hunter with a temper and an incredibly dangerous skillset shouldn't be executed….probably wasn't the best argument Fives could have put in place. So I stayed silent and let him do the talking.

"We are loyal soldiers," Fives continued, earning the attention of all those present. "We follow orders, but we are not a bunch of unthinking droids! We are men. We must be trusted to make the right decisions, especially when the orders we are given are wrong!"

Dogma didn't care about Fives' speech. I knew that from the darkness that swirled around him. "Fire!" he yelled. But I already knew he would.

And I already knew that I wouldn't be dying by firing squad that day. Dogma locked eyes with me as the blasters went off, but I never broke his gaze. He seemed shocked when I didn't collapse in my death, his eyes blinking a few times as if to clear his vision. Beside me, Fives and Jesse looked around in shock, relief, and a bit of pride.

"What-" Dogma started, walking forward a few hesitant steps to address his firing squad, "What happened?" Kix and Tup lifted their shoulders just slightly, casting me slow grins. I returned them, giving them a nod in appreciation as they all dropped their blasters.

"They're doing the right thing, Dogma," Rex said gently, approaching the young clone, "Because if this is how soldiers are rewarded for heroic actions, then one day, every man in this battalion may face a similar fate." He turned to us at the wall. "Take off their binders."

"No," Dogma protested. "We have orders! We have to go through with this!"

I shifted in my binders, giving him a glare as we were approached by silent clones, most of them too stunned and unsure to say anything. I flexed my wrists and fingers when I was freed, rubbing the sore skin gently.

"Good luck finding anyone to do it," Rex muttered to him, looking at us with a small smile of relief. Even though he'd figured his men wouldn't do it….he was afraid they still would anyways.

Dogma looked distressed, his shoulders hunched. "If you're so intent on seeing the orders through," I called, crossing my arms over my gray undershirt. "You're welcome to come shoot me yourself." Fives and Jesse lifted their brows at me, but I didn't flinch. I knew Dogma wouldn't do that. He didn't have the balls.

Also I wasn't in cuffs anymore, so I'd kick his ass.

Dogma walked away without ever turning to look at us. I watched him go as Rex approached, the others staying back in awkward silence. The captain gave us each a small smile; one that portrayed apologies, relief, and love. I returned it hesitantly. I was glad to not be dead, of course...but I also felt the dark cloud that was Krell's mind looming above us in the tower.

"The general won't be happy," I said softly, frowning when Rex's mind flashed with unspoken fear.

"No. Dogma and I've already been summoned." I lifted my brow, seeing Rex tap his wrist comm in answer to my unspoken question.

"Let me go with you," I offered, taking a step forward. "He could kill you for disobeying him."

Rex looked at me for the briefest of moments before he let out a slow breath. With the release of air, his mental wall came crumbling apart. His mind opened to me like a flower to the sun, reaching out and enfolding me in his whirlwind of thoughts. I closed my eyes, breathing through my nose as if the presence of his mind could be sucked into my lungs like oxygen.

This was him forgiving me. And asking for forgiveness himself.

He also let the truth pour out; He'd never directly ordered the men not to shoot, since he couldn't….but he heavily implied that he didn't want them to shoot us. And that he understood if they didn't want to either. He'd gone against orders in a way he thought honorable. He'd figured it out...for me.

"If you go, he'll absolutely kill you," he responded finally with a sad smile. His gloved hand reached out hesitantly, his knuckles touching my jaw to lift my chin higher. "Don't worry. I'll be alright."

I was silent as he walked away, gently clapping both of his brothers on the shoulder before entering the base of the tower. Fives' hand touched my arm gently, his finger squeezing softly to tear my eyes from where Rex had gone.

"He'll be okay," he assured, but he didn't know to build a mental wall against me like Rex did. I felt the anxiety he was hiding below the surface. Even so, I let Fives turn me from the tower to look at the clones who were our executioners only moments before. Hardcase was already embracing two of them.

I smiled tiredly at Tup and Kix as they approached, each looking a bit sheepish. "Thanks for not shooting me," I said dryly.

"Of course not," Tup assured me.

"Oh, don't let him fool you," Kix interjected with a chuckle, "He tried. Tup's just a terrible shot." We all laughed, but sobered quickly under the dark Umbara skies. "What you all did was brave and should be rewarded," Kix said with a significant glance towards where Krell was in the tower….with Rex, "Not punished."

"Why were you worrying?" Fives asked me, his brow raising. "You probably felt they wouldn't shoot."

I shrugged, glancing over the faces of the men around me with a solemn expression. "I didn't know that. Not at first. And that's because they didn't know if they'd shoot us either." I turned to Fives, smiling gently. "Not until you spoke, at least. Thanks for that."

The ARC trooper blinked before letting out a huff of surprised laughter. "Well...thanks for listening," he said to his brothers, earning a somewhat awkward laugh from them.

I glanced up at the tower, the Force moving darker than it had before. "We should probably scatter. Krell won't be happy."

That earned a chorus of grunts in agreement, the clones breaking off into groups. I moved off with Five and Kix, intent on finding our gear again. Maybe I'd stage a full-fledged coup at this point. I was already disarmed, stripped of my armor, and accused of treason.I had nothing left to lose, really.

We didn't make it far. Our group stopped when guns were leveled at us yet again. I sighed behind Fives and Jesse, lifting my hands to lace behind my head lazily.

"General Krell ordered you to be arrested," one of them informed us before leading us back towards the brig. My skin was practically prickling from the presence of the Dark Side as we approached the command tower again.

The base was being thrown into disarray, the clones rushing to prepare for battle. "What's happening?" I asked, earning a silencing shove from one of the soldiers. I growled at him, but said nothing.

A moment later though, he whispered, "Krell got a message from one of General Kenobi's battalions. The Umbarans are on the move." I was grateful for the information. And the fact that most of the clones seemed to still like us, despite Krell's accusation of treason.

Despite not being able to see their faces through the helmets, I could feel their shame as we stopped outside. "Not her," one clone said, pointing at me. "Krell wants to see her."

I clenched my jaw, but gave a reassuring nod to Fives and Jesse as I was led away, entering the base of the command tower. The clones formed around me on the elevator, rifles in hand, but never bound my wrists. I rolled my shoulders a few times, the anxiety rippling from my guards. If they weren't going to bind me, that meant I'd have a shot to take down Krell.

If given the chance and I see a good way to talk my way out of the consequences.

The doors hissed open to reveal the command center, Krell standing with his back to us. He was examining his holograms, as usual. I stepped in with confidence, not holding back the seething distaste I felt for him. A part of me was disappointed Rex wasn't there. Then again, I never wished him to be in the presence of Krell. And the hope was foolish, considering he had likely already departed with the battalion.

"General," one of my guards greeted, Krell only turning his head slightly in acknowledgment.

"Dismissed," was all Krell said to them. The guards glanced at each other in hesitation before snapping a quick salute and leaving. I crossed my arms over my chest, watching the Besalisk as he examined his maps.

When he still said nothing, I sighed loudly. "Is there a reason you wanted me here or can I go rot in the cells with the Umbarans a bit longer?"

"I assure you that each clone who failed to pull the trigger will be executed in turn," Krell said sharply, my jaw tightening. He turned finally, the corner of his mouth curling. "Your beloved captain will not be excluded from that group."

That earned some glances from the clones that remained in the command center. Some sparked with interest, others in acknowledgement. I supposed the brothers could read each other pretty well. I swallowed thickly, but said nothing, trying to mask my anger.

It didn't work. Krell took a long, deep breath, closing his eyes with a grin. "I feel the Dark Side rising in you. Your rage. You want to kill me." Krell chuckled deeply, the anxiety of the clones spiking even higher at his words. "You've wanted to for some time, haven't you?"

I stared at him, feeling the darkness in my rising, just as he had said. His presence was influencing me. There was the sharp taste of copper on my tongue from where my cheek had split under my gnawing teeth.

Krell whirled on me. "Answer me," he spit.

I swallowed thickly. "Yes."

He said nothing more, folding two of his hands behind his back, the others crossing in front of his chest. He assessed me as I stood there, the clones around us trying to do their jobs and eavesdrop at the same time.

"Though it seems I had good reason," I said finally. My words were firm, having found my grounding finally. "Your casualty numbers should have tipped me off about your obvious hatred for clones."

Krell smirked and moved to reply, but paused, his brow lifting. A moment later, one of the clones in the room announced, "Sir, the 501st has engaged the enemy."

It was almost immediate.

The words had barely left the clones mouth when the Force rippled with something horrible. I blinked in shock, my mind going blank as the feeling of death and suffering washed over me in a wave. My hand touched my chest in fright, my ribs feeling like they were being squeezed into my heart. I could barely breathe, my vision fuzzy.

The feeling only intensified, my legs giving out. I fell to my knees, gasping for breath between the onslaught of death. Between the distant sound of explosions and gunshots that echoed through the Force, I heard Krell speak firmly.

"Leave us," he commanded. I could feel the shock and hesitation of the clones under the darkness I felt from the battlefield. Still, they obeyed and left me alone with Krell in the command center.

Through the Force, I could feel the death of clones. But it was deeper than that. There was something….sinister about it. Pointless, even. Why? I wasn't sure, but it was likely Krell's doing. I heard screams. So many screams…. "We're sustaining heavy casualties!" My other hand came up to clench at my temple, my head throbbing with the endless pain.

There was a sudden surge from a connection I was familiar with. A sob ripped from my throat immediately, feeling the horrible grief Rex was experiencing. Tears streaked freely down my cheeks-something that happened rarely, and almost never in front of enemies.

"What," I gasped between heavy sobs, "have you done?"

Krell chuckled with an arrogant smirk. "Your attachment to them makes you weak." He didn't have to specify who he meant. I was sure he felt the death, too. "They are not men. They are tools in a game far bigger than you will ever understand."

I sobbed again, feeling Rex's grief deepen as it rippled through his brothers. I sensed...familiar presences. Clones from Kenobi's units. It was too much, making it difficult to even stay upright in my kneeling position.

"What have you done?" I repeated breathlessly, but with more clarity. Krell smirked, but didn't reply. So I looked around, seeing the reports that flickered in the holograms once attended by clones. There was one about Umbarans wearing clone armor. Tears slid down my cheeks as my eyes slid closed in grief. "You've turned them against each other. You're a traitor." I meant to sound accusatory, but the words were whispered.

Krell only crossed his arms, smirking. "Yes, well unfortunately for you, your word holds no weight anymore. As a traitor and a Sithling who is currently resonating deeply with the Dark Side, you have no defense."

I wanted to kill him. To get up and fight. Or reach out with the Force and take my lightsaber that hung on his belt, taunting me. But I couldn't. My vision was clouded, spattered with visions of blood and death. My muscles were trembling with the effort of keeping my chest upright, each sobbing heave of my shoulders draining my energy further.

"You'll never get away with this," I whispered, my head beginning to bob in a struggle to stay awake. "Either I'll kill you, or they will."

Krell chuckled. It was a deep, rumbling sound, but not like how Rex's sounded when I pressed my ear to his chest. Rex's was warm and soothing-a peaceful hum against the endlessly running thoughts in my mind. Krell's was….intimidating. Dark. Sinister.

"You?" he laughed. "You can barely hold yourself up. Even at full strength, you are but a bounty hunter with a dream of being someone special. First you tried to be a Fett. Then a Sith. Now a Jedi. But you are nothing." Krell's lips cracked open to reveal his pointed teeth in a sneer. "And the clones are of no concern to me."

I panted, my vision blurring further. His words sounded slurred, but I was sure it was because of my hearing, rather than anything to do with Krell's actual speech. I vaguely heard Krell's comm beep again, summoning the clones to return to their posts.

"Take her to back to the brig," he commanded as I finally slumped forward. The grips of the clones' hands on my arms was a distant sensation, drowned beneath the anguish resonating from the soldiers I considered to be my family. I was more or less dragged across the command room floor and towards the elevator.

The last sensation I was aware of...was the deep vibration of darkness in the Force that resonated with Krell's final chuckle as the doors hissed closed behind us.

MANDO'A

Blindfold lo'shebs'ul narit- You can shove your blindfold up your ass.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Sorry for the delay in posting. Weirdly, lots to do despite Covid-19!

Thanks to everyone who is sticking around! As always, reviews/likes/reposts are always welcome and appreciated.

-Ryder