Chapter 169: How To Interrogate A Mute?
Escorted by four Coruscant Guard members, Dageer entered the high-level prison in the heart of the planet. Only the worst of the worst were sent there, and the life of the inmates followed a circle of eating and being locked in the small cells.
They stopped at the inspection station, where the clone responsible asked for Dageer to leave his weapons behind. Dageer stared at the clone, who shrugged and saluted at the same time, resulting in a weird shoulder motion.
"Sorry, sir. Unless you are a member of the prison guard, Commander Fox or Commander Thorn, you have to leave all weapons behind. Most visitors and troopers aren't allowed to keep their comlinks, but since you are a sub-commander, you can."
"I understand, trooper."
Dageer handed over his DC-15A and his DC-17, and the clone put them on a box labeled with his name and the words '303rd Attack Legion'. As usual, after seeing two blasters, the clone pulled the box to store it, but Dageer stopped him.
"Wait. That is not all."
The guard looked surprised at the vibroblade that Dageer gave to him. After being folded, the weapon wasn't larger than a fist, so he didn't notice it at first.
After the meeting that Dageer had earlier that day, a trooper brought to him his armor, helmet, and weapons. Amidst the blasters was also the vibroblade. According to the clone, a padawan said it was Dageer's, and ordered the soldier to bring it together with the rest.
A vibroblade was by no means standard equipment to a Republic soldier, and Dageer almost threw it away, but then he thought that having one more weapon, especially one as inconspicuous as this, couldn't be bad. On the end, he keeps the vibroblade, and attached it to his back, where he could quickly grab it if needed.
"Ermm..."
"Are you going to take it or not, trooper? I have a prisoner to interrogate."
"Sorry, sir."
The clone took the vibroblade, and Dageer kept walking, almost leaving his surprised escort behind. The guard that was left behind couldn't help but think that Dageer was quite eccentric, which was weird, considering that all clones should be equal. But then, the guard had never entered a real battle, he didn't know how they could change one's personality, even if they started the same.
A floating platform took Dageer down. Hiigi was on the lowest level if the prison, where interrogations ensued. It was like gaining a tour of the prison.
Shaped like a hollow cylinder, the platform went straight through the middle of the prison, showcasing the cells embedded on the walls. Those cells were protected by a red energy wall, but even if the walls failed, the prisoner wouldn't be able to escape unless he or she could fly or hijack one of the floating platforms. Up till now, no inmate had ever escaped.
Along the way, Dageer felt many eyes staring at him with obvious disgust and hate. However, he completely ignored them. Why would he care about what criminals thought of him?
The lower level of the prison was very dark, probably to scare and intimidate the inmates. Dageer heard that before the clones assumed the position of guards, countless atrocities happened in the prison.
On the ground level, a Coruscant Guard officer, Poshe, waited for Dageer. When the platform arrived, he signaled for the escort to wait.
"Sir."
He saluted Dageer, who nodded to him. The platform took back the escort. From this point onwards, only authorized personal could stay. Even the guards couldn't leave the prison daily like the others. Instead, they had their own quarters down there.
"The prisoner is waiting for you in interrogation room 11, sir."
"Good. Take me there."
"Erm... before we go, sir, I think you should know that he had been... uncooperative."
Dageer wasn't surprised. He doubted any recently captured inmate would be willing to talk. He followed Poshe for about ten minutes, after which they ended up on a hallway full of doors, each one guarded by two clones wearing red armor.
"He is here."
One of the cells had four clones before it, one of them being a medic, and another holding an electrostaff. Dageer raised an eyebrow. electrostaffs and any similar weapon weren't permitted in the prison. Poshe couldn't see his face under the helmet, but probably sensed his hesitation.
"It was the only way to calm him down, sir. He sent two of my men to the infirmary before we finally knocked him out and put him here."
Dageer said nothing. He could either scold Poshe for using prohibited weapons to threaten the prisoners, and complain with his superiors, or he could pretend he didn't see anything.
Dageer ignored Poshe, and grabbed the electrostaff from the clone's hand.
"Throw this way. And you, Poshe, the next time I come here, I don't want to see any of this, understood? I dislike him even more than you do, but you know I will be forced to report this. I will let it slip only this once."
"Yes, sir."
Dageer didn't report Poshe not because he was cruel or wanted to see Hiigi suffer, but because he needed the information that Hiigi had. It was their only chance to transform a failed mission into a successful one. He had, however, been influenced by the Jedis more than he thought or ever imagined. Unconsciously, he started to adopt their morals. Commanders Fox or Thorn, who usually interrogated the prisoners, never cared for the electrostaff, but they never worked with a Jedi for an extended period of time.
"Sub-commander Dageer! There is something you should know."
Dageer was about to enter the interrogation room when the medic stopped him. Dageer turned to the clone, waiting for him to speak.
"Erm... Our exams showed us something... interesting. The prisoner, Hiigi, is mute."
"Mute? That is not possible. I heard him talk before."
"His vocal cords appear to be crushed. I don't know how or when, but he is totally incapable of speaking."
"Then we will have him write. Open the door."
The clone opened the door as he was ordered. Dageer wasn't in the mood to chat, and his tone made it very clear.
Hiigi was sitting on a metal chair, his hands chained together, and then chained to the ceiling. One of the guards chained his legs to the floor, and then released one of his hands before giving him a datapad.
Dageer pulled over another chair, and sat down. Hiigi growled as loud as his broken voice cords permitted, but Dageer ignored the hatred in his eyes.
"What happened to you? A Separatist officer and warrior became a voiceless bounty hunter. And you entered Sing's crew. Why?"
"Grr..."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Reis123
Reis123 Hey guys, how you all doing? Hope you are enjoying the novel!
Just thought that I would explain a bit here. Dageer isn't merciless, and I know YOU know that, but I can't make him a totally righteous and moral person, because he has a lot of pent up rage, for many different reasons, which you know about.
Anyways, hope you enjoy the chapter, and may the Force be with you.
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