Bab 342: Bad Memories, Old Friends
Caleb Dume was a young human male, with long brown hair, with several braids. He was just a few months away from completing his training, and becoming a Jedi Knight.
He was looking at the door curiously, waiting for Ragout. The Togruta was a mystery for him and those apprentices near his age. It was an unspoken agreement in the Jedi Order that newly promoted Jedis would interact with the padawans, and guide them. They would be responsible for helping the younglings mend their problems with their masters, and similar predicaments.
But Ragout never did any of that. If it wasn't for the fact that he was frequently mentioned by the older Jedis, few would know he even existed. And the way his master and even members of the Jedi Council respected him, even though he was a padawan just under two years ago, created an even bigger picture of him in the minds of the padawans. They were just children after all.
Suddenly, the door to the command bridge opened, and Caleb straightened his back. He was surprised, however, to see Ragout. He had imagined the Togruta differently.
Ragout's missing protuberance, and the several scars that adorned his face and arms - he wasn't wearing the usual Jedi robes - made him look more like a criminal than actual outlaws Caleb had seen before. Even though he had a slight smile on his face, he was exuding a dangerous and commanding air. The Force around him was calm as a still lake, but beneath it was something just waiting to appear.
The clone next to him wasn't any less impressive. Even if the padawan ignored the scar that covered the entire right half of his face, he easily caught his attention. Especially the markings on his armor. They were a clear sign of how many battles he had gone through. The old colors of the 303rd Attack Legion reminded Caleb of what his master had told him, that Ragout's legion had all perished in Ryloth, aside from a few, Hell Squad included.
"Young Caleb. How are you?"
"General Dume."
He quickly returned the greetings from the two men. Ragout was just three years older than him, but he was much more experienced. As for Dageer... There was no need to say anything.
After saluting the padawan, the commander turned to the clone next to him, who had faint red paint on his armor, and grinned while grabbing his wrist in a greeting.
"Still fighting, Grey?"
"Always, Dageer. Brain and the others?"
"Alive and kicking, and with a few new trophies. Haha!"
Ragout also greeted Grey enthusiastically, like they were old friends, which once again prompted Caleb's curiosity.
"You know each other?"
"Yeah, kiddo. I saved Grey's life back at the First Battle Of Geonosis, when a bug was about to grab him. He paid back the favor at the Second Battle Of Dantooine. He was part of the 184th at that time."
Like all padawans, Caleb flinched when Dageer called him a kid, but decided to ignore it. It was very clear he was different from normal clones, and the way Ragout treated him was proof of that.
"All right, Dageer, leave the stories for later. Caleb, what do you have for us?"
"My master was occupied with a mission Master Yoda gave her, so she sent me, Master Ragout, to support Commander Dageer."
"Uhmm?"
Both Ragout and clone got a bad feeling at the same time, and any sign of a grin disappeared from their faces. Grey also became serious.
Ragout knew Jedi Master Depa Billaba, Caleb's master, well. She was already a member of the Jedi Council when he was just a padawan. It made sense she would send her apprentice in her place, since he was almost a fully-fledged Jedi already, but why would he assist Dageer, and not him?
"Explain."
"Well... Master said the Jedi Council think it isn't advisable that you take part in this mission, because your emotional connections to it are too strong. They want you to return to Coruscant, while Hell Squad and Commander Dageer will be left in command."
Truth be told, Caleb wasn't happy with his master's arrangement. He knew Jedis shouldn't be arrogant, but it was difficult not to think that he, as a Force user, was best suited to be in command than a normal person. However, when he complained, all she said was that he would understand with time.
"Stop beating around the bush, padawan. What is the mission?"
Having spent so much time with clones, Ragout wasn't used to small talk. Caleb shrugged inwardly. He had been hesitating because of the rumors he heard, that's all.
"Commander Dageer is to, with our assistance, go to Ryloth, where..."
The apprentice was suddenly interrupted by a loud noise, which scared him. All eyes turned to Dageer, to find that the commander was trembling, his scar burning red. He had punched the hologram table, cracking it.
Most of the people on the command bridge were shocked. Caleb because he had never seen a clone lose his calm, whatsoever demonstrate such blatant anger. The clones because they knew of the discipline ingrained in their genetic code. Few dared to even interrupt their superiors.
Only Ragout wasn't surprised, because he was going through something similar. He wasn't as expressive as Dageer, but a wave of sadness and disgust washed over him.
"Dageer..."
The commander ignored his general - one of the few times he had done that - and turned around, leaving the command bridge. There was too much going through his mind right now.
"This... What..."
Caleb was left confused, uncertain of what had happened. He could feel the disturbance in the Force around Ragout, as if he was losing control of it. But when the Jedi turned to him, he was expressionless, his eyes ice-cold.
"Grey, go after Dageer, and bring him here after he cooled his head. Don't let him talk to Hell Squad yet. He will understand, he just needs a minute. As for you, padawan Caleb, leave for now. I need to talk to the Jedi Council."
"But..."
"You heard me. Ask Grey to explain it to you later."
Bewildered, Caleb walked out, followed by Grey. Even though he was being kicked out of his own command bridge, in his own cruiser, there was something in the Togruta's voice that left no room for argument.
Ragout waited patiently, his eyes closed, for Dageer. When his old friend came back, he tried to apologize - his behavior wasn't one a soldier, and a clone, on top of that, should have - but the Togruta stopped him. If anyone understood Dageer, it was him.
"Why now, general?"
"I don't know. But this time the council will have to give me some real answers."
As they were talking, a hologram of two dozen Jedis sitting in a circle appeared. Some of them were at the Jedi Temple, while others were on battlefields around the galaxy. The Jedi Council.
"Call us, why did you?"
"To clear some doubts about the task the padawan Caleb Dume gave us, Master Yoda."
"Us? Didn't my padawan tell you that you are to return to Coruscant, Master Ragout?"
A human, who Dageer assumed was General Billaba, frowned when she heard the Togruta. Meanwhile, General Kenobi, General Plo Koon, General Ki-Adi-Mundi, General Windu, and General Yoda all had their gazes fixed on Dageer. It was unheard of a clone partaking in a Jedi Council meeting, and they could feel his anger, which was very inappropriate.
"He did. But I want to hear it from you. Why us? Why Hell Squad?"
"This... This isn't a simple matter, Master Ragout."
"The death of my master in Ryloth also wasn't. Why now?"
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Reis123
Reis123 As many of you already suspected, the end of the novel is drawing near. I won't say exactly how many chapters are left, to keep a little bit of suspense.
I'm saying that now because I should already be pretty obvious, with the whole new novel thingy I have going on. However, that's all I will say for now.
Remember that Iferes will start releasing 14 of December, here and on Royalroad! I really appreciate any kind of support you can give!
Status Power Mingguan
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Power 
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