Jesse ran after Dogma, and it didn't take him long to catch up to him. Dogma was just as in shape as the rest of them, but Jesse's legs were just a touch longer. He knew he'd be able to get to Dogma, but he was shocked and concerned how soon he caught up to him. Dogma was shaking so much that he was stumbling around worse than someone who was drunk or drugged. This kid was going to drag himself to the ground.
"Dogma." Jesse went up to his brother and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. Normally such an action would make someone pause in their tracks at least long enough to listen. Dogma didn't stop for a second. He pulled against Jesse's grip, weakly resisting him.
"Let me go." Dogma said, his voice devoid of all emotion.
"Just stop for a second." Jesse said. "I know why you're freaked out." Jesse was pretty sure he knew more than Dogma did about why he was so scared. Jesse may not understand everything about what Pong Krell had done, but he knew enough. The so-called Jedi was a monster, and he shouldn't be anywhere near any clone, let alone leading them in battle.
Jesse didn't want that man near the 501st. The thought disgusted and horrified him. But running away from it would solve nothing. They needed to talk about this and figure out how a handful of clones could stop a Jedi General all the way on the other side of the galaxy.
"We'll figure things out." Jesse said quietly. "But we need to stop and think about it before we run and act."
"I can't." Dogma said shakily. "I can't stop. I can't think. If I let myself think then I'm going to listen to the voice screaming in my head that I'm making a mistake." Dogma's voice was still free from any emotion, and it was unnerving. Jesse had heard Dogma get upset and frustrated. He showed his emotions in an extremely passionate way. He was locking them up tight right now.
"What are you doing?" Jesse asked. "Where are you going?"
"I-I have to speak to General Skywalker." Dogma said. He finally turned to look at Jesse. While his voice was numb, his eyes were full of an impossible amount of feeling. Jesse saw anger, fear, and determination. "We can't stop General Krell. He's a Jedi. He's a General. But he's not your General. Skywalker is. I don't know what General Krell's position in the military is, but when it comes to the 501st General Skywalker has superiority. General Krell can't do anything if General Skywalker says he can't, which means that General Skywalker needs to go back to his men. He needs to protect them."
"Do you know why Krell is a threat to the 501st?" Jesse asked without thinking. That wasn't what he meant to say. Trying to get Dogma to remember something that his mind couldn't handle was far from his top priority right now. Jesse didn't like that Dogma didn't remember something so significant, but he couldn't force him to remember. This wasn't Jesse's decision to make. Dogma, Tup, and Fox were the ones who had the most say. Even Hardcase and Kix would know what was best for Dogma, and not just let their personal thoughts get in the way.
Jesse was kicking himself when he saw Dogma's eyes glaze over slightly. The numbness in his voice had spread to his gaze. Jesse was scared he had pushed too far. He was relieved when Dogma shook his head and looked to the side in a way that Jesse was very familiar with. That was what Dogma did when he went into denial and ignored the truth right in front of him. Dogma was pushing back the memories that were creeping in on him. He wasn't going to let himself get lost in his mind. Not when he had a job to do.
Dogma was stubborn. Jesse had always known this, but he had never been so proud of it before.
"It doesn't matter if I know or not." Dogma said. "I know he's a threat. That's what matters." He seemed fairly confident and sure, but Jesse could feel Dogma's arm shaking. His brother was afraid, and Jesse didn't think it was because of what Krell might do. Dogma didn't get scared easily, especially not like this. While he had every reason to be afraid of Krell, he didn't know what those reasons were, and Jesse didn't think Dogma would be nearly immobilized by a fear that was basically just instinctive. He was afraid of something else.
"What are you scared of?" Jesse asked as kindly and gently as he could. He tried so hard to be comforting as opposed to judgmental. He was here to help Dogma, not mock him for being afraid.
Dogma's face twitched. "We need to tell General Skywalker what's going on, but he's a busy man. He wouldn't be called back to Coruscant for nothing."
"I don't know about that." Jesse scoffed. "But let's just suppose that he was called back for something important. This would matter so much more to him."
"I know." Dogma said, but his arm was still shaking.
"So what's the problem?" Jesse asked. Dogma's breathing had become really harsh. Jesse knew that he couldn't question Dogma for much longer, or else he would just stop responding for one reason or another.
"It's not my place to tell him where he's needed." Dogma said. There was finally some emotion in his voice. It was raw desperation with a hint of fear.
"Your place?" Jesse barely kept himself from hissing or shouting in irritation. He didn't understand Dogma. He really didn't. But he was trying. "Our brothers could get killed under that monster's command, and you're hesitating because you don't think you have the right to get help?"
Dogma's mouth was trembling and Jesse didn't know if he was going to start crying or yelling. "I know, okay? I know I'm a freak that cares more about the regulations than my own brothers." Jesse had thought that very thing about Dogma more than once, but it was concerning to hear him say it for himself. And the raw emotion in Dogma's eyes was heartbreaking.
"I'm trying." Dogma's voice cracked. Jesse almost wished he sounded emotionless again. "I'm trying so hard, but I can't. I can't be good enough. I can't care enough."
"Don't talk about yourself like that." Jesse said. "Of course you care. You wouldn't even think of going to Skywalker if you didn't."
"But my head's telling me to stop, and it's so hard to ignore." Dogma said.
"So don't listen to that voice." Jesse said. "Listen to my voice." Jesse had no issue ignoring the regulations, which should be just guidelines anyway. Especially the regs that tried to tell them what their position in life was. Jesse didn't let anybody tell him that he was less than human. And now he would help Dogma do the same.
"We're going to General Skywalker." Jesse said, leaving no room for argument. "He's going to save our brothers. And I'm not going to let anybody, not even you, say a single word about how we had no right to do so. Understand?"
Dogma looked at him with wide eyes and nodded. Jesse nodded back and finally let go of Dogma's hand. They started to head to the exit of the barracks, but Dogma insisted on stopping at a closet to grab a spare helmet first, since he'd run off without grabbing his own.
Jesse didn't think they had time for this, but he didn't say a word about it. Outside of the barracks, nobody ever saw the guard without their full armor. Jesse, wearing the blue paint of the 501st, wouldn't be given a second glance or a moment of judgement. As a member of the guard, Dogma would have all eyes on him the second anybody saw him without the helmet. The last thing they wanted right now was for a self-righteous senator or civilian to stop them in their tracks to scold or report Dogma for being 'out of uniform'. That would waste even more time than grabbing a helmet would.
Jesse didn't know if Dogma had thought that far ahead or if he was just wanting a helmet out of habit and a need to follow the regs. Whatever the case, Jesse, for once, thought the rules might be doing them a favor.
When they left the barracks Dogma made Jesse drop his arm, and he insisted that they not run. They could walk quickly, but they couldn't run. They needed to remain professional, even if this was an emergency and neither of them were on duty.
When Jesse had first arrived in Coruscant he would see this type of behavior as the exact kind of stuck-up behavior that the GAR hated about the guard. After getting to know the guards more and training with them Jesse understood that they didn't do this because they thought they were better soldiers than the others, but because it was a survival method.
Jesse still had his doubts about if Coruscant was actually that dangerous, but he wasn't completely ignoring the possibility. Dogma and Thire had been hurt by a General, and apparently these kinds of sick Demonstrations were normal for senators and investors to request.
Even if the guards weren't getting hurt in the line of duty, they were being abused by the people they had sworn to protect, and Jesse thought that was even worse.
They went to the senate building, and Jesse was beginning to understand why Dogma was so nervous. They needed to talk to Skywalker, but if he'd been called back to Coruscant it had probably been by the Chancellor himself. Even Jesse was reluctant to interrupt a meeting with the Chancellor, even if he thought that it was probably unimportant.
He didn't let his unease show. He had a job to do. Jesse needed to be here to nudge Dogma along. If Dogma sensed even a little bit of doubt and hesitancy from him, he would turn back immediately.
Jesse was really good at two things. He could urge people to do what was right, which was why he'd been chosen to be an ARC trooper in the first place. And he could encourage a bending of the rules when it was appropriate. This situation right now was a mix between the two, and this was where Jesse thrived.
Despite both of their nerves, anybody that looked at the two of them wouldn't know it. Dogma and Jesse knew how to play the part of a soldier well. Nobody questioned why a helmetless ARC trooper from the 501st was walking side by side with a lone Coruscant guard. Jesse and Dogma walked quickly and with purpose.
As they entered the senate building The shaking in Dogma's hands got worse. Every time it started to spread to his legs and make his gait unsteady, making it clear that he was fighting against his own mind, Jesse would step in.
"We're doing the right thing." Jesse would say, as though it was as simple as that. Dogma would normally fight him on that statement, starting a passionate debate between them. Somehow, right now, Dogma was reassured by his words. He would take a deep breath and relax for another minute or two. It wasn't a lot, but it made it so that Jesse could buy enough time to get them through the senate building. Eventually they found themselves standing in front of the Chancellor's office.
Commander Fox was standing guard, still as a statue. He could probably stand at attention for hours without so much as shifting an inch. When he saw Dogma though he visibly jolted.
"What are you doing here?" Fox asked tensely. Dogma made an odd sound, just quiet enough that Jesse barely heard him. His legs were shaking again. He'd come this far, but Dogma hadn't prepared himself to stand up to his commander.
Dogma trusted Fox, and Jesse knew he saw him as far more than his Commander, but he was not in a good place of mind to remember that.
Jesse thought that Dogma could talk to Skywalker. It's what he was mentally steeling himself up for. But he couldn't be questioned anymore. He just needed the chance to do it, and Jesse could give him that much.
Jesse stepped forward, drawing Fox' attention to him. "Is General Skywalker in there with the Chancellor? I need to talk to him." Let Fox think this was all on him. Let him think that Dogma was just here because he'd tried to stop Jesse. If Fox didn't show a hint of disappointment in Dogma, then he could focus on doing what needed to be done.
"They're having an important meeting." Fox said. "You'll have to wait for them to finish."
Dogma seemed to be deaf to Fox' words. He walked right past him, just like Jesse had hoped he would. Dogma opened the door and let himself in, immediately bringing the attention of the Chancellor and General to him.
Dogma didn't look at the Chancellor. He'd probably back down if he saw him. He was focused completely on Skywalker.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, General." Dogma stood at attention. "There's something that I think requires your attention." His tone was purely professional and left little room for argument.
"Commander." Chancellor Palpatine's voice sounded forcibly kind. It was clear that he was angry, and he was just hiding it. "I thought I made it clear that we weren't to be disturbed."
"I'm sorry, Sir." Fox said. He gave no explanations. No excuses. He just took the reprimand for what it was, even though he really hadn't done anything wrong.
Skywalker gave Dogma a confused look, and then he looked at Jesse. "What's going on?"
"It's complicated, General." Jesse said. "But it's important. You need to go back to the 501st."
"General Skywalker has a lot of responsibilities." The Chancellor said in a very patronizing tone. "His men should be competent enough to take care of themselves for a few days." The thing was, the Chancellor was right. The 501st didn't need Skywalker to hold their hands at all times. But this wasn't an issue they could solve on their own.
Jesse looked at Skywalker imploringly. "I know you're busy, Sir, but we wouldn't have come if it wasn't important. Please. Just hear us out."
Skywalker gave Jesse a long look before he turned back to the Chancellor, an apologetic look in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Chancellor, I won't be gone long, but I think I need to at least hear them out."
The Chancellor was tense for a long moment before he sighed and made a dismissive gesture. "As you will, Anakin. Do what you think is best. I trust your judgement." His tone still sounded off, like he was testing Skywalker, letting him make his own choice, but with the expectation of what the right decision was.
Fortunately, the General didn't rise to the bait. He nodded respectfully at the Chancellor and then followed Jesse and Dogma out of the office. On their way out Jesse heard the Chancellor address Fox.
"If I may have a word, Commander." Chancellor Palpatine said. "I think you need a reminder of how to obey instructions."
Fox went rigid again. "Yes, Sir." Jesse thought he would probably just get a stern talking to, and that was nothing to be afraid of, but he couldn't help but feel nervous on Fox' behalf. He couldn't do anything though. He and Dogma needed to talk to Skywalker. Fox could take care of himself.
They left the office, and Dogma walked confidently back down the halls, leading the way. Jesse walked just behind him, keeping a careful eye on him. Dogma looked like he was fine now, but Jesse felt like it was just a matter of time before he fell apart.
"What's this all about?" Skywalker asked.
"Not here." Dogma said shortly, and Jesse was impressed with his gumption. He'd all but given the General an order. He thought that Dogma realized it too, because his hands had started shaking again. When Dogma spoke, that uncertainty didn't show at all. "We need somewhere with more privacy."
Skywalker frowned slightly. He was clearly concerned and confused. There was anger hidden in his eyes, but Jesse knew that anger was a mask to hide his fear. If there was one thing the General couldn't stand it was a lack of control. He didn't like not knowing what was going on.
"I think I know the place." General Skywalker increased his pace so he was walking in the front. He took the lead as they made their way to the offices of the senators. Jesse hid a smirk as he realized where they were going. He should have known.
They were soon walking up to Senator Amidala's office. Skywalker opened the door and let himself in, not even bothering to knock. When he did things like this Jesse found himself wondering just who Skywalker thought he was fooling.
Senator Amidala was sitting at her desk, but she stood up when she saw that she had visitors. "Ani…General Skywalker. What are you doing here?"
"Sorry, Padmé." Skywalker said. "We needed somewhere to talk." He turned to close the door. As soon as they had their privacy Dogma's legs gave out beneath him. He knelt on the ground and even through the helmet Jesse could hear how rapid his breathing was. He'd kept his mask on as long as he could, but it had slipped away now.
"Dogma." Jesse knelt next to him. He took the helmet off and set it aside. Dogma was breathing harshly and his gaze was a little unfocused. Jesse put a hand on his shoulder, and Dogma's gaze shifted to him, meeting his eyes. "You did so good, Dogma. So good."
"I interrupted a meeting with the Chancellor." Dogma gave a small, slightly panicked laugh. He was trembling.
"I know." Jesse laughed and leaned forward, resting his forehead against Dogma's. "It was amazing."
"Jesse." Skywalker was looking at them, just a touch of impatience in his eyes. "What's going on?"
"Is he alright?" Amidala asked. Jesse hesitated for just a moment. Dogma definitely wasn't okay, but he wasn't their priority right now. They had come here to talk to General Skywalker about what Krell was doing and the threat he was. Every second mattered.
"General, you need to return to the fleet." Jesse said. "I know you left General Krell in charge in your absence, but he's absolutely psychotic. He's going to get everybody killed!"
Dogma made a weird sound, like he was going to disagree, but he stopped himself. Maybe Jesse was being too blunt, but they didn't have time to beat around the bush, and that had never been something he was very good at.
General Skywalker just looked bewildered. "What are you talking about?"
"He-" Jesse started. Dogma put a hand on his arm.
"Wait." Dogma said. "You can't just tell him. H-he's not going to believe you."
Jesse was a little offended on his General's behalf. "He has to know, and he won't know if we don't tell him." He gave Dogma a reassuring look. "He's not like Krell. He's a good one."
"But Krell's still a Jedi, and we're still just clones." Dogma said. "It'll be our word against his. I don't know what happened, and you only know because of a second-hand account. Who do you think they're going to believe?" And Jesse hated that he was right.
"Would someone just tell me what's going on?" Anakin asked tensely. Jesse ignored him for just a second.
"What do you want to do?" Jesse asked Dogma. There was that fear and determination in his eyes again. He looked to General Skywalker.
"Sir, can you look into someone's memories?" Dogma asked.
"I don't like to, because it's invasive." Skywalker said. "But yes."
"No!' Jesse gave Dogma a stern look as he realized what his brother was planning. It was a decent plan. What better way to show Skywalker that Krell was a threat than to literally show him? But Jesse really didn't like this plan. "Dogma, you don't remember what happened for a reason." Jesse knew the memory was still in his head, but it was locked away in an instinctive form of self-defense. Having it not only be revisited, but potentially relived through the Force, was not going to be easy to deal with.
"Do you have a better plan?" Dogma gave Jesse a challenging look.
"What about something that doesn't hurt you?" Jesse growled.
Skywalker cleared his throat. "Dogma, is it?" Dogma started and looked at Skywalker with as much professionalism as he could while still sitting on the ground. "Have you had a bad interaction with General Krell?" Dogma nodded.
"I-I've blocked out the memory." Dogma said. "But I think you should be able to find it."
"I can." Skywalker said. There was a kind look in his eyes. "And you won't have to see it with me."
Dogma looked relieved, and Jesse had no more reason to argue against the idea. He stood up and stepped back, giving his General space to kneel in front of Dogma.
"Just clear your mind and relax." Skywalker said. Something about his tone made Jesse feel calmer. He wondered if this was the influence of the Force, or if this was just because he trusted his General. "It's not easy to let someone into your mind. It can be scary, but I'm not going to hurt you. I know what I'm doing."
"I know, Sir." Dogma said. He closed his eyes as Skywalker put his hands against his forehead. They both grew very still and quiet, and there was nothing Jesse could do but stand and wait.
"Jesse." Senator Amidala put a hand on his arm, giving a grounding touch. "What's wrong?"
Jesse's mouth thinned. "Krell hurt Dogma. I-I don't know what happened, exactly, but the General made Dogma shoot Commander Thire."
Amidala's grip on him tightened. "What?" She whispered. "Why would he do such a thing?"
"Fox says it's called a Demonstration." Jesse said. "He made it sound like this kind of thing happens to guards all the time." Jesse had talked to a few guards that had also given Demonstrations. They weren't all violent and physically harmful, but they were all dehumanizing in one way or another. Jesse wondered if that was the point.
Jesse clenched his fists. "I think this is the first time a Jedi has done it though."
Amidala made a disgusted sound. "More people are responsible for this kind of behavior? Who?"
"With all due respect, Senator, from what I've heard it was other senators." Jesse said. He refused to think for a second that she had been involved with such a thing, but it had still happened in her circles. Maybe she had the power to do something about it. Just like Skywalker had the power to do something about Krell.
Amidala probably had more questions. Jesse knew that he would have. But she was distracted from answering when Skywalker slowly pulled away from Dogma. There was a fury and disgust rolling off of the Jedi's shoulders. Jesse had never seen him quite this angry before.
"...Ani?" Amidala reached out for Skywalker, putting a hand on his shoulder. He stiffened at first before he relaxed into her touch. "Is what Jesse said true?"
"I saw it." Skywalker said tensely. "More than that, I felt it. I felt everything that Dogma did when he was given his orders."
Skywalker knew the truth. Jesse expected to storm out right then and there and get Krell away from his men. Instead Skywalker adjusted his position and scooted closer to Dogma, bringing his hands to his head again.
"Have you known any other Jedi besides Krell?" Skywalker asked. "Did you follow anyone else's commands?"
"Yours, Sir." Dogma said. He and Skywalker stared at each other for a long minute before the General blinked and looked slightly ill.
"You were one of mine." Skywalker muttered. "And you saw me as…" He didn't finish his sentence. Jesse wished he had.
"Anybody else?" Skywalker said tensely. Now he was the one who sounded like he was seconds away from falling to pieces, but giving everything he had to keep it together until he had fulfilled his duty, whatever that was. Jesse wished he knew what was going on. "Did you ever meet Master Shaak Ti?" Dogma nodded. "Think about that moment. Think about her. What do you see?"
Once again Skywalker went into Dogma's mind and his memories. It only lasted for a few seconds. Finally Skywalker pulled away from Dogma and stood up. He looked visibly upset and furious. Dogma grew more nervous.
"Did I do something wrong, Sir?" Dogma asked. Skywalker grimaced and gave Dogma an apologetic look.
"You did nothing wrong." General Skywalker said. "You're the one who's been wronged. If you'll give me the chance, I'll do what I can to make things right."
"I-I don't understand." Dogma said. Skywalker just looked pained. Amidala put a comforting hand on his arm and he leaned into her touch.
"I know you don't." Skywalker said. "And that's part of the problem." He took a deep breath, and then focus came back to his eyes. He was ready to get to work.
"I'll deal with Krell." Skywalker said with barely restrained fury. He looked at Jesse, gesturing to him. "May I-?" He didn't specify what he wanted, but Jesse immediately agreed. He trusted his General with his life. Skywalker touched his forehead, just as he had done with Dogma. He felt his General reach into his mind. It was an odd feeling, like the opposite of dissociation. He wondered what the man was looking for.
Skywalker let go after just a few seconds, looking relieved but still upset. "Jesse, I have a job for you while I'm back with the 501st."
"I thought I was returning with you." Jesse said. He was looking forward to shooting Krell in the leg and seeing how much he liked it.
Skywalker shook his head. "You're needed here. I'll take care of Krell, but I think there's something bigger going on." He looked at Dogma. "Do you think you can spend a few days in the Jedi Temple? There are mind healers there that are better suited for this than I am."
Dogma frowned. "This?"
Skywalker's mouth thinned. "Dogma, were you aware that you see the Jedi as your masters? In the same way that a slave might?"
Jesse felt bile rise in his throat, and Dogma paled so quickly that he probably felt light-headed. Jesse had known that something was wrong. They'd been trying for weeks to figure it out. What Skywalker was suggesting was horrible, and had terrifying implications, but somehow it fit all too well with everything else they'd figured out.
Skywalker looked at the two of them, his frown deepening at their reactions. "I'll take that as a no."
"I-I'm not a slave." Dogma said. "I'm just loyal. I'm dedicated. I-I was created to serve the Republic. The Jedi."
"I know what I saw. What I felt." Skywalker said. "I've seen it before. I've felt it before. That's not something that comes instinctively. That behavior, that submission, is taught. Whether you knew it or not, whether they called it slavery or not, someone taught you to be a slave. And I mean to find out who, and why."
Dogma looked faint. If he wasn't still on the ground he might have collapsed. This was a lot to try to wrap his head around. Jesse was having a hard time understanding it all, and he wasn't the one who had lived through it.
Skywalker sighed and held a hand out to Dogma. It took him a long time to accept it and let himself be pulled to his feet. Skywalker held onto his hand for a long minute, trying to give reassurance and comfort.
"I need to go to Umbara." General Skywalker said. "You'll be safe in the Jedi's care, if you'll let them. I know you don't trust me, and you probably don't think any Jedi is safe, but they just want to help you. I promise. Will you let them try?"
Dogma had a familiar calculating look on his face. He was trying to figure out what the best thing to say was. He was trying to think of what the General wanted to hear.
"If you want me to go to the Jedi Temple, that's where I'll go." Dogma said. Skywalker looked stricken. He released Dogma's hand and looked at Jesse.
"Stay with him." Skywalker said. "Don't let a Jedi give him orders, even for his own good. If he gets even a little uncomfortable around any of them, make them back off. Take care of him."
Jesse thought he was the worst person to do this, but at least for this second he was the only one here. Later Hardcase, Fox, or Tup would take care of Dogma and protect him from ones who meant him no harm. But for right now it was Jesse's responsibility, and he wasn't going to fail.
Jesse looked at Dogma. "I'll do my best." That was a promise.
General Skywalker nodded and quickly left the office, getting out his communicator before he was even out the door. He had a job to do. Jesse didn't know how he could focus on helping his men and saving them from Krell after such a discovery about Dogma. Jesse couldn't do that. Right now Dogma was his only priority, and the 501st was a distant concern at the back of his mind that he couldn't afford to think about.
This was why General Skywalker was a war hero. He could focus on different issues without completely forgetting about any of them.
Amidala cleared her throat. "I have some work to do as well. I need to learn more about these so-called Demonstrations." She gave Dogma a concerned look. "Will you be okay? I can escort you to the Temple."
"I've got him." Jesse said. He didn't know where Dogma stood when it came to the Senators, but he wouldn't be surprised if it was the same as the Jedi.
They were going to the Jedi Temple. Jesse knew that it was for Dogma's own good. That the Jedi could help him in ways that Jesse and the others couldn't. But they were still their superiors. Dogma was about to be exposed to all that power and influence. The very least he deserved was to walk there side-by-side with someone rather than behind or under them.
And if they took the long way to the Temple and passed by Dex' diner on the way, and just so happened to get hungry and decide to stop for a bite to eat, nobody would have to know.
"Come on, D'ika." Jesse put an arm around Dogma's shoulder. It was a gesture he'd done before. Dogma had always scoffed and shrugged him off, seeing the contact as demeaning and frustrating. This time Dogma leaned into the touch and let Jesse support him. "You're going to be okay, kid." He would see to it personally.