Days had passed since Agent Kallus awoke aboard the Ghost. Though his injuries were healing, the tension between him and the crew lingered in the air. His loyalty to the Empire remained, but something was gnawing at him—doubt. He had been left for dead by the very people he had served without question. It was an idea he wasn't ready to confront. Not yet.
He had been given a small bunk, separate from the crew's main quarters, and he was thankful for the distance. His body had mostly healed, though a sharp pain remained in his side—a remnant of the crash. It wasn't fatal, but it was getting worse. Every night, he wrapped the injury tight, wincing as he tried to keep it hidden. The last thing he wanted was their pity.
One morning, Kanan found him sitting alone in the common room, staring at the stars through the viewport.
"How are you holding up?" Kanan asked, his voice casual, though Kallus knew the Jedi sensed far more than he let on.
"I'm fine," Kallus replied tersely. The pain in his side flared up as he shifted in his seat, but he forced himself to ignore it.
Kanan sat beside him, quiet for a moment. "You don't seem convinced."
Kallus said nothing. He wouldn't let them see his weakness.
After a pause, Kanan continued. "You've been with the Empire for a long time. Seen a lot of things, I'm sure. But there's a lot they don't tell you."
Kallus turned his head, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "The Empire is transparent. They maintain order."
"Order at the cost of truth," Kanan said gently. "You've been loyal to a system that doesn't care about you. But there's more you need to see—things the Empire hides."
Kallus' gaze hardened. "Propaganda, I'm sure. The Empire protects people from chaos."
Hera's voice chimed in from behind. "Does it?"
Kallus turned to see her standing by the door, arms crossed. "You've heard of Geonosis, right? The 'official' story is that it was a hive of separatist activity and was pacified. The Empire wiped them out to stop future threats."
"That's what happened," Kallus replied, though his voice wavered slightly.
Hera stepped forward, her eyes full of quiet determination. "What the Empire didn't tell you is why they wiped out the Geonosians. It wasn't because of any threat. It was because they helped build something the Empire didn't want anyone to know about."
Kanan nodded. "We've seen it ourselves, Kallus. The genocide wasn't about security—it was about covering their tracks."
Kallus frowned, his mind flashing back to the reports he'd read. He had been stationed far from Geonosis during that time, but he remembered the sudden disappearance of an entire species. He hadn't questioned it. Why would he? The Empire always had a reason. But now, hearing it from the Ghost crew, he felt a stir of unease.
Ezra entered the room next, holding a datapad. "You're smart enough to know something wasn't right. We got records—proof—that the Empire slaughtered the Geonosians to keep the Death Star project secret."
Kallus tensed at the mention of the Death Star. He had heard whispers, rumors of a secret weapon, but he was never privy to the full scope of it. The idea that an entire species had been exterminated to hide its existence made his stomach twist.
He stood abruptly, wincing as the pain in his side shot through him, but he hid it as best he could. "This is all speculation. Conjecture. I won't listen to your lies."
Ezra tilted his head. "You think we're lying? Why would we save you, keep you alive, just to fill your head with fake stories? Maybe you should ask yourself why the Empire would hide something like that from you."
Kallus' resolve wavered, but he clenched his fists, standing firm. "The Empire brought order to the galaxy. I believe in what they're doing. I have to."
"But do you have to?" Sabine asked from the doorway, leaning against the wall. "You've seen how they treat their own. They left you to die, Kallus. You're still defending them, but they've already betrayed you."
Kallus' throat tightened, and for a moment, he felt his defenses crumble. But he pushed the doubt down, forcing himself to remain calm. "I don't expect you to understand loyalty."
The crew exchanged glances. Kanan sighed and rose to his feet. "You don't have to decide now. But we're not hiding anything from you. If you want to know the truth, it's here."
Kallus said nothing, his mind racing. He turned sharply and left the room, retreating to his bunk. His side ached, the pain worsening. He stumbled into his small quarters, pulling the bandages away to inspect the injury. It was worse than he'd thought—infected. He cursed under his breath, leaning heavily against the wall.
He'd been so focused on keeping it hidden, so desperate not to show weakness, that he hadn't realized how serious it had become. Now, the infection was spreading.
As he clutched his side, he heard footsteps outside. His heart raced. He couldn't let them see him like this.
"Kallus?" It was Ezra's voice, hesitant. "You alright?"
Kallus stiffened, biting back the pain. "Fine."
There was a pause, but then he heard the door creak open slightly. Hera peeked in, frowning when she saw Kallus' pale face, the way he was gripping his side.
"You don't look fine."
Kallus glared at her. "I said I'm fine."
Hera stepped inside, concern written all over her face. "Why are you trying to hide it? If you're hurt, we can help."
"I don't need help," Kallus snapped, but his body betrayed him as he staggered, nearly collapsing against the wall.
Hera was at his side in an instant, catching him before he fell. "You're going to get yourself killed if you keep this up."
Kallus wanted to push her away, but the pain was too much. His pride screamed at him to resist, to not let the rebels see him like this, but part of him knew Hera was right.
Hera sighed, supporting Kallus as she led him out of the room. "You don't have to do this alone, you know."
Kallus didn't respond. For the first time in a long while, he felt his loyalty to the Empire falter. He had been left to die, cast aside, and yet here were the rebels—his enemies—saving him, over and over again.
The truth was becoming harder to ignore.
