A Soldier's Secret

Part 20

"Ah, Cedar," The Separatist said "So lovely to see you again"

"Can't say I've had the pleasure" I rolled my eyes "So, here I am. Let Commander Tano and General Skywalker go, if you don't mind" My hand found the hilt of my blaster

"Well, my original request was filled. But my second, dearest Cedar, is up to you" I could hear the grin beneath his helmet "You are going to trade yourself for your superiors"

My eyes flicked to Ahsoka, who shook her head slightly. Skywalker didn't move.

"I'll go. But you let my superiors go first" I snarled

"No. Because then how do I know you won't be the slippery cat you are and escape with them?" He bantered

"And how do I know that you won't take me and my Commander and General?" I smirked

"How I've missed this. Your sarcasm and utter... refusal... to obey orders" He sighed

"Stop being a creep!" Hardcase shouted

"SILENCE!" He roared

"YOU ARE NOT IN COMMAND HERE!" Cody returned his shout

"I'll go with you, creepo. But you let my superiors go first" I said, then pulled my gun. Skywalker moved slowly and pointed to his captor's hand. The hand holding the lightsaber.

I aimed and fired, and he shouted and dropped the sabre. Ahsoka sprung up and rolled to the left, Skywalker to the right. Why they didn't grab their sabres was beyond me until I saw them clipped to their captor's belts. I stood my ground, staring at him as he laughed

"Ah, Cedar" He breathed "Still the trickster, I see. Do you still climb like you used to?" He drawled "I remember you, so high up. Benny, was it? Who you cling to? You never realised that I saved you. Don't you remember? His hand reached out, with a single moment of slowed fall?" He crooned

"What a pleasure" My voice dribbled with sarcasm "To see you again, General Kelish Sombra" I trembled, my knuckles white against the hilt of my gun "I don't understand why you didn't save yourself, though. I'm just a clone" 

"You're more than that" His hand opened, and I felt a familiar tugging sensation. It was weak, but he didn't need it to be strong before. He would have to up his game. I dug my heels in, and he pulled harder as I realised what he was doing.

The instant before I stopped tugging, he released the pressure and pulled Skywalker into his grip as I tumbled forward to him too

"Au Revoir" he smirked, and my vision went black

I woke up in a force suppressor, my hands loosely bound, barely clinging to my wrists. I couldn't move, but they had still bound my hands? I knew Kelish was scatterbrained, but he wasn't stupid. I looked for Skywalker and saw him stuck in chains, behind a set of bars and a ray shield. That was overkill. He had a set of force suppressors too.

"Cedar, you called him General. Who is he?" Skywalker said

"General Kelish Sombra. He was my general when our unit fell into a gorge. I was the only survivor until Kelish came back from the dead" I snarled "I don't know why he's obsessed with me, though. I'm a clone"

Skywalker scoffed "You climb trees like a pro, Cedar. You saved the 501st with advanced warnings more times than I bother to count. You can scout faster than anyone else and you naturally defy EVERY SINGLE ORDER we give you. Compared to the clones who follow every order given, your personality is a breath of fresh air" He rolled his eyes

"Oh, thank you for that marvellous compliment!" I snarled 

"This is boring. We've been here for six hours and I'm sick of it! Especially now that I'm stuck with you!" He slammed his head against the ground

"Wow, I'm so offended!" I faked laughter "Shut up"

"You shut up"

"No, you shut up"

"No, you shut up"

"No, You shut up"

"SHUT UP!" I shouted

"I admit defeat," Skywalker said

"Good" I smirked

"You've always been able to quell even the fieriest of tempers" Kelish drawled "Even Benny's" He came into the light, with it reflecting off the shine of his armour.

"You don't deserve to have Benny's name in your mouth" I spat

"Have you been listening this whole time?" Skywalker asked "Creep"

"And when did I ask for your opinion?" He asked "Oh right, never"

"SHUT UP!" I roared "STOP TALKING, STOP ARGUING, STOP BREATHING!" His hand reached my face, but at least I still had my helmet on

"Even you cannot silence me," He said

"What's with all the black? You always liked lighter shades of brown, if I remember" I snapped "Stop being a creep, Kelish"

"Why did you leave me to die in the gorge? Questions, questions. I don't hold it against you, Cedar. Anyone would believe me to be dead"

"I ATTENDED YOUR FUNERAL, YOU LIVING CORPSE!" I roared. My throat hurt as I did so, but I didn't care. The metallic taste of blood was in my mouth, and I stopped to cough on it.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" Skywalker shouted. Kelish snapped, and a metal wall slammed down on his cell, blocking him from sight.

His fingers were surprisingly soft against my chin "My dear" He whispered, then tugged my helmet off. His eyes met mine, and he tilted my head up and wiped the blood off my mouth "My apologies" He murmured, then something stung my neck and my vision went black for the second time.