Capítulo 179: Being Backstabbed
Dust left a trail in the horizon as eight BARC speeders zoomed through the valleys of Ryloth. One of the drivers, a clone wearing a weirdly painted armor, said something to the only person who wasn't a clone in the group.
"General Ragout. Don't stop. There is someone looking at us."
The Togruta didn't slow down, nor looked at Cell. Instead, he just asked quietly where their stalker was.
"The hills to the left. He is on some kind of animal."
Dageer discretely lowered his macrobinoculars. Cell was right. A Twi'lek with pink skin and riding on a big and round kind of lizard was watching them. Ragout also saw the Twi'lek, even though he didn't have any kind of binoculars.
"He is riding a Blurrg. They are the mounts used by the freedom fighters. I bet he is a scout for Syndulla."
"He really doesn't trust us, does he?"
"We certainly don't trust him."
Ragout turned to Brain, surprised that the easygoing clone would be so hostile to the freedom fighters.
"We are here to help them, trooper. We have no reason to distrust Syndulla and his men."
Brain silenced. It wasn't appropriate for him to answer, since he would be discussing with the general, and, well, soldiers didn't do that.
But Brain had his reasons to doubt Cham Syndulla. Usually, rebels like Syndulla couldn't be trusted. They had a tendency to think that just because it was their planet, they knew more than actual soldiers. However, all the experience they had came from grabbing a blaster and killing two clanckers. They didn't have tactics, they didn't think enough before attacking, which usually lead to high casualties and failure. Not only that, but they were also driven by rage and hatred. That made them susceptible to make rookie mistakes.
Suddenly, the path disappeared between a crack on the walls of the valley. Slowing down, they followed it until they arrived at a clearing. At the center of the clearing, three Twi'leks waited for them.
One was a woman with grey skin and a revealing outfit. She was beautiful, but a terrific scar cut her face and neck. The second one was a man, his skin blue and green, and he was carrying a huge blaster. And finally, the third one, a male with beige skin. Dageer assumed he was Cham Syndulla, because he exhaled confidence, and the skin he showed was marked with scars.
Ragout got down from the speeder, and graciously greeted the Twi'leks. Hell Squad walked behind the Jedi, their blasters in hands but aiming at the ground.
"Cham Syndulla? I am Ragout, padawan of Master Ima-Gun Di. We want to discu..."
"Where is he?!'
Ragout was interrupted rudely by Syndulla. The Twi'lek yelled furiously, confusing both Ragout and the clones.
"Where is he?!"
"W-Who? Syndulla, I don't understand..."
"Don't lie! My people saw you capture him! Where is he?!"
Cham Syndulla advanced, as if he was going to attack Ragout. Immediately, seven blasters were aimed at him. In response, the other two Twi'leks that were with him also aimed their weapons at them.
There was a muffled sound and the earth shook. All around the clearing, in the walls above, Twi'lek riders appeared, aiming a variety of weapons at Hell Squad. The clones changed their aim, each one to a different target. In the past, they had made the mistake of firing at the same clancker, wasting time, and costing other soldiers their lives.
Dageer now knew why his instincts were telling him something was wrong. It was an ambush. He didn't know why the freedom fighters would want to attack Republic troops, but it was happening.
"Lower your weapons."
Ragout's low voice startled Dageer. He looked at the Jedi, and saw the padawan glaring at him. Slowly, Dageer lowered his DC-15A, and ordered Hell Squad to do the same.
"Are we being captured again?"
"It can't be as bad as Ventress was."
"Silence. Cham Syndulla! You called for help of the Republic! Why are you aiming your weapons at us now?"
Syndulla laughed, and spat on the ground. Dageer tensed up at every movement the Twi'lek leader made.
"We called for help, and instead you betrayed us! You captured my brothers, and you still dare to come to this place? I didn't believe when my people said you were still coming. What do you want? A ransom? You won't get it. We fought the Separatist, we will fight you."
Ragout frowned. He had no idea what Syndulla was talking about. However, the padawan knew that something went terribly wrong. Without warning, Ragout used the Force to pull his lightsaber. The entire Twi'lek force concentrated on him, and Hell Squad put their weapons up again. And then Ragout threw his lightsaber on the ground, near Syndulla.
"Do the same."
Dageer looked at his general, and sighed. Jedi were said to be calm, but sometimes they were more impulsive than the clones.
"You heard the general, boys."
The sounds of several weapons hitting the ground made Dageer feel uncomfortable, as if he was naked. The two Twi'leks originally with Syndulla walked over and grabbed the blasters. Syndulla himself grabbed Ragout's lightsaber.
There was a smile on his face now, the rage all gone. Dageer suspected that the freedom fighter was never really angry, but wanted to see their reaction.
"Ragout, right? Follow me."
"To where?"
"My home, of course. I still want to know where my man is."
Ragout stood still, and confronted Syndulla. When the woman next to him aimed her blaster at him, Ragout simply waved his hand, and her weapon flew out of her hands, hitting the ground twenty meters away.
"I don't know who your man is, nor what you are talking about. Explain, Syndulla. Now."
Syndulla frowned, and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. It was clear he liked the sensation of power in his hands, and Ragout contesting his authority was almost too much.
"You are in no position to make such claims, Jedi. Either you come now as guests, or you come later as prisoners."
Ragout stared at Syndulla, and eventually shrugged. He wanted to understand what was going on, not cause a conflict. It would only make things more difficult if the Republic had to worry not only about the Separatist, but also the freedom fighters.
"Okay. But I want you to know, Syndulla, that I have no idea what you are talking about. If your man was arrested by us, I know nothing about it."
"Liar! You are all liars!"
"Quiet, Miwy. Let's go."
The woman with the scar spat towards Ragout as she picked her weapon on the ground. Carefully, Ragout and Hell Squad followed the Twi'leks to a cave. With blasters on their back, they disappeared inside the earth.
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"General! We can't reach General Ragout. Do you want us to send a patrol after them?"
General Di closed his eyes, and felt the Force around him. He had a special connection with Ragout, so it was easier to sense him.
"No need. He is safe. Continue the preparations."
"Yes, general."
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