Star Wars, The Clone Wars Minisodes

Betrayal

juliatheawzom3274 , Word prompt  contest

Word promt 3: Betrayal

-Utapau, Order 66-

The Republic is expired, gone, outdated. The ways of the Jedi are no longer and my brother's are now free from slavery. Chancellor Palpatine is now the leader of the Galactic Empire, the true and uncorrupt power of the galaxy, but the frontiers are still my prison.

I received a call when I was on Utapau. "Execute Order 66" The Emperor instructed me. "It will be done my Lord." I replied without a moments hesitation. I, Cody, instructed the men beside me to take aim on my former Jedi General, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The shot rang from beside me, a deadly blast made its mark beside the creature Obi-Wan rode, sending him both and the creature falling into the deep sink hole below. 

I ran to the edge and saw the Jedi fall into the deep water. My job here is finished, although I knew that in the greater expanse of the universe, all the other Jedi generals and their padawans were being exterminated, humanely. 

However, in the heat of the situation I could not piece together the real reason why we clones were told to carry out the order. It felt right and wrong at the same time. I will be honest, when I first agreed to the order I was trying to figure out a reason why my general would also be in fault. 

He has done nothing but remain loyal to the Republic and the Jedi order. He has helped liberate thousands of planets held by the Separatist. Like the time he lead us in Ryloth to liberate the Twi'leks. Not to mention, all the times General Kenobi has protected my men, my brothers, and that for a fact that he knew and understood our suffering and that he actually acknowledged us as individuals. 

But then again, he was not all loyal to the Jedi Order. The Order forbids attachments, yet he formed one with the former Dutchess of Mandalore. I kept it a secret from my men, for his sake, for my friend. Not only that, but sometimes the Jedi have shown that they cannot remain loyal to their order. 

Like the time when General Luminara's padawan fell to the darkside and bombed the Jedi temple. She then went on to frame Skywalker's padawan for the bombing. When my men came to know about this, we were sure that the Jedi, in all their holiness can become corrupt. 

That story left room to debate, the padawan was young and inexperienced, a child thrown into war. What really sealed my mind about the Jedi's hypocracy in their ways was the Battle of Umbara. 

My men and I may have not been working directly with the traitor Pong Krell, but what my vod experienced, was not deserving of all he has done. Rex is a good man and didn't deserve to suffer under that devil. He told me about how his men paid the price of the battle, severely. Rex was emotionally disturbed for months after that, always blaming himself for being loyal to Krell. I blamed myself to. 

Between Rex and I, Rex was always more independent when it comes to a battle, always thinking out of the box, yet he was treated like a lowlife. It proved even more to me that the Jedi are falling from their precious light. Into a pit of darkness I dare not think about and follow. I was the Marshal Commander of the G.A.R, but Rex was more deserving of my title. 

The most solid proof that the Jedi are out of line was Umbara. The fact that my most trusted men had to lay their lives for no reason. Sent to kill our own without us knowing. Blinded by our honor to the code, reduced to numbers. I didn't see General Kenobi warning us about Krell falling to the dark side, I didn't see him blaming the Jedi. He kept quiet by the sides.

Although I could see the sadness in his eyes regarding Krell's downfall, I could also see that he could not do anything about it, because his code forbade it. We didn't even mourn the dead of the battle, forced to move on to the next. 

That experience alone scarred my men as we had many friends, but only some of them are with us. We no longer lent out trust to the Jedi willingly. We had fear everytime we served under them, even if we weren't before Umbara. I'd like to think that the Jedi could never fall, but in the end they are also humans. Prone to the greed like every other living being. 

When Order 66 was executed, I didn't want to believe that the Jedi had to pay for the crimes the entire Republic made, but it was fit of the situation. The Republic heavily counted on the Jedi to win the war, and the Jedi made soldiers of their kind and only prolonged the war. The Jedi could have used their powers to bring the war to a stop. The Jedi could have actually solved thousands of battles in peaceful ways. They pride themselves of self control, but I don't see it. 

As sad as it was, as much as it hurt me and killed me inside, I must do my job and follow Order 66 to rid the galaxy of the Jedi. I should I not, it was a fallen Jedi who first began the war in the first place, the fallen Jedi who orchestrated both sides of the war, Separatist and Republic. How much more manipulation have we witnessed but not come to realize. 

When that shot hit the general, I knew that in all major battle fronts, the similar was happening. We had to turn on our Jedi, the ones we trusted, the ones who trusted us. I know one day, this will come to haunt me. I know I should not be doing this, but it feels so right. It feels so perfectly planned, so perfectly fitted. Like it was meant to be.

 At least we clones ended our Jedi's lives without causing them to suffer long lasting pain. A shot straight to the heart, ending any pain and suffering. Ending the ultimate betrayal. Ending my betrayal, my suffering, but I must go on.

After the general fell into the hole, I went to the edge to inspect. "No one could have survived that fall. Except General Kenobi." I whispered to myself. If I followed protocol to the last letter, I'd send an inspection team to validate Obi-Wan's death. I knew he didn't perish, but he did mentally. All of his kind payed the price, and he will wander the galaxy for the rest of his life, alone and in the shadows.

That's punishment enough for the Jedi's betrayal against the Republic. That is punishment enough for my betrayal against the Empire, for letting a fugitive escape, and for betraying my closest friend. 

In the end, it seems we betrayed each other. 

I still don't know right from wrong. I'm, confused and pained.

"I'm so sorry, General. I don't know what to do. I'm sorry."

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