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Chapter Thirty Nine: Broken Leash

Hopefully, Obi-wan had already contacted the Republic with the possible location of the captives before he, Anakin, and Rex pulled their little stunt.

Kaar had been frozen solid, sitting in paralyzed fear at Miraj's feet. He felt horrid. Disgusting. He'd wanted his first touch to be out of captivity, in his quarters with...

With Droidbait.

He wanted to give his first touch to Droidbait, and this slaver had taken it from him. He had a meltdown when he was finally alone, curled in the corner choking on his sobs as he came to the realization he couldn't do it. That—

—the red-blades would be coming for him any day now. His sister clung to him, eyes darting from shadows to shadows as she feared they'd take him away. He was always curled up—

—in a silk blanket, trying so desperately to release his terror, his rage, and his disgust into the Force. His voice hitched in his throat, and over the next couple of days he clawed at the collar around his throat.

"Oh my dear pet, what have you done to yourself? I was hoping I wouldn't have to cut your claws but, you leave me no choice." She had cooed, while Kaar sat curled on the floor, hyperventilating with smears of blood from his scrambling, from being on his knees trying desperately to escape his bonds.

He feared she would come for his hair next. He flinched every time she put her claws near it.

"Oh pet," she cooed as if speaking to a child, "I wouldn't cut off your hair. It'd make you so less beautiful. I can see why you're so proud of it."

If it had been anyone else, it would've been a compliment. His sister used to tell him how jealous she was of his hair, braiding what short segments she could. She told all of them stories of great heroes. Of the Great Dreamer. Naively, Kaar had wished he would come and free them. He was a demigod right? Why couldn't he?

Hearing Queen Miraj say those words chilled him to the bone and made him sick to his stomach. He cried himself to sleep most nights.

Until Dooku arrived.

Kaar's eyes were oh so dull. The life drained from them as he sat at Miraj's feet like some kind of animal.

He wanted to go home.

He wanted his men. He wanted the Admiral. He wanted Satahl.

"I recognize you."

Kaar barely lifted his head as Dooku acknowledged him. He didn't move as Dooku laughed.

"Why, you're the General Sunna I've heard so much about? Look at you, completely broken in only two weeks."

Had it really been two weeks?

Where were they?

Where was Ahsoka?

Miraj looked from Dooku to him and raised an eyebrow, "Impossible, a Jedi could never be so broken. Not how Skywalker brought him to me."

The conversation didn't get to continue, as clones in 201st blue burst through the windows and doors.

Kaar recognized Domino Squad and broke down in tears. Ladybird ran up and punched Miraj in the face as Droidbait and Cutup rushed to Kaar's side, holding him as he cried.

Dooku escaped, as he heard later, but at the time Kaar didn't care. He clutched onto his men for dear life, sobbing over and over that they hadn't forgotten him. He clung to Droidbait as he was walked to the gunship.

Droidbait stayed with him as he sat in medbay, motionless and unstable. The poorly treated wounds on his throat made him hurt.

He was just happy to have a broken leash.

•—END OF CHAPTER—•