บท 155: The Traitor
"Actually, general, there is one more thing I would like to tell you about."
"What is it?"
"The reason this all started. I believe Brain already told you Ventress was capturing clones to dig out a temple. She called it the Temple of Asheress."
"Temple of Asheress... I never heard of it. Do you know why Ventress was so interested in this temple?"
"After we freed ourselves, I took a group with me, and entered the temple. We walked in an endless corridor for hours and hours, or so it seemed. After we left, Captain Narza told us that we had spent less than an hour inside."
This time General Di was truly shocked. Possibilities flashed by his mind. Control over time was an ancient Jedi art that not even Master Yoda had mastered.
"At some moment, whoever was messing with us created a path to the center of the temple. We could only follow it. Inside we found a red crystal. The crystal... spoke with us. Tried to control us. Metal and Tech were there too."
"The sub-commander is right, general. We totally lost our minds. We could only think of grabbing the crystal. Only he escaped its control."
There was admiration on Metal's voice when he spoke. If it wasn't for Dageer, who knows what might have happened?
"When Timer touched the crystal he started floating and screaming. I had to break his wrist to release the crystal from his hand."
"And where is this crystal? Such a dangerous thing can't be left for anyone to take. Especially Ventress."
"We took it, general. Cell is grabbing it right now. And, General Di? If you can't decide what to do with it, we really should destroy it. It's too dangerous."
Cell chose this moment to enter the command bridge, holding a container. He gave it to Dageer, who in turn gave it to General Di.
When the Jedi was about to open the container, Dageer nervously searched for his DC-17, only to remember he had left it at his quarters.
"Power... Power... Take it... Take me... You will have power... Pow!"
The terrific voice appeared again, trying to take ahold of Dageer's mind. He saw all the clones on the bridge stop, and step towards the crystal. Suddenly, General Di closed the container strongly. His face was pale, and Dageer saw a trace of fear. Ragout had the same look. Whatever they heard from the crystal was much more intense than what the clones did.
"M-Master... this... What is it? So powerful... So... dark."
"I don't know, Ragout, but you are right. It's too powerful for us. We have to give it to Master Yoda."
General Di looked to all the dazed clones on the command bridge. Only now were their eyes starting to gain focus again. He put the container holding the red crystal inside his robes.
"Is there anything else concerning this crystal, Dageer? If it is, you need to tell us. It is very important."
"I don't think so, gener..."
"Master Di! All your troopers started acting weird... What is happening?"
A green-skinned person, with deep black and blue eyes entered the command bridge as if it was it's home.
Commander Keeli, one of the first clones to recover from the influence of the red crystal, rolled his eyes. The rodian, Senator Onaconda Farr, had been a constant source of trouble ever since they rescued him from the Separatist on Mygeeto.
Commander Keeli had heard that Senator Farr was one of the calmest and most reasonable senators of all the Republic, but this had been proven wrong so far. First of all, he had been the only witness of his fellow senator, and traitor of the Republic, Bonde Lee, killing sergeant Rothax of the Galactic Marines, and blowing the bridge, which led to Dageer's capture.
Then, the senator started urging them to leave Mygeeto and get back to Coruscant, even getting to the point of trying to overrule Commander Keeli's orders with his authority as a senator. Only General Di's intervention made the rodian stop. And now, he entered the command bridge yelling without any regards.
Senator Farr was about to speak more when Dageer turned around. Clone and senator looked eyes, and the rodian immediately turned around and tried to leave the command bridge.
Dageer struggled a little to remember where he had seen the senator, then some bad memories came back to him. Instantly, he jumped and tried to grab Senator Farr's arm, but with only one eye, his depth perception was bad, and he missed.
"Arrest him! Now!"
Instinctively, Brain and Dab grabbed the senator's arms, and pulled him back.
"What are you doing?!!! I am a respected senator of the Republic! Release me! Release me now! This is treason, clone scum!!!"
The clones ignored him, and held him right in front of Dageer. Only then did Commander Keeli and the others react.
"Dageer! What are you doing?! He is a senator! Brain, Dab, release him!"
The two clones might be members of Hell Squad, but ultimately, they still had to follow the orders given by Commander Keeli, even if it meant disobeying Dageer.
After a little hesitation, they dropped the senator to the ground, more violently than they should have. After all, he called them 'clone scum'. Still, they position themselves behind Senator Farr, blocking his way out.
Commander Keeli approached Dageer until he was just centimeters away from his second in command. General Di was watching by the side. His eyes weren't disapproving, but pensive. Ragout was at Senator Farr's side, talking with him.
"Explain yourself, trooper."
Dageer couldn't see through the visor of Commander Keeli's helmet, but it was obvious that he wasn't happy, and he had good reasons to be so. If what Dageer did before wasn't considered treason, then this was. Dageer gave a sideways glance at Senator Farr.
"Commander, this man was responsible for our capture on Mygeeto."
"Nonsense! It was Bonde Lee! I helped you guys arrest him!"
Dageer ignored the screaming rodian, and turned to General Di. He could see that although the Jedi didn't totally believe him, he also had his suspicions about Senator Farr.
"I saw him kill Rothax and two other galactic marines with my own eyes, then blow up the bridge, sir."
"That is stupid! I am a senator of the Republic! Why would I help Ventress capture clones?! That is absolute nonsense!"
Dageer wanted to explain more when Ragout ordered him to stay quiet. Unknowingly, Dageer followed the order. Although young, the padawan was many steps above him in the hierarchy.
"Senator Farr, how do you know about Ventress?"
The moment Ragout asked the question, every person on the command bridge went quiet. The fact that they had met a Sith on Mygeeto wasn't a secret, since many clones saw her, but her name should only be known by a few officers.
"I-I heard the soldiers talking! W-Why are you asking me?! This clone is the traitor! I am a senator! A senator!"
General Di approached Senator Farr. The rodian tried to back off, but Dab and Brain blocked his way. General Di closed his eyes, and waved his hand in front of the senator.
"You... You are not Onaconda Farr. Who are you?"
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