Chapter 336 - Ragout's Path

Taka found the eight people he was looking for holding the enemy commander prisoner. He hadn't doubted that the Jedi would survive the battle, because of his supernatural powers, but he was surprised to find out that all the clones were still alive. Badly hurt, that's true, but alive.

It was only now, seeing the veterans covered in new wounds, that Taka associated them with the Hell Squad he heard rumors about. In an army of hundreds of millions, it would be impossible for units not to have similar, or even identical, designations, so when he first heard Ragout refer to them as Hell Squad, he thought they were just a normal unit.

But now he was sure they were anything but normal. They had to be the group of clones he heard stories about. It was hard to find anything about them, other than whispers here and there. But those whispers found their way into the ears of those interested in them pretty quickly, and Taka was one of those people.

Seven clones, veterans of a thousand battles. Responsible for dozens of thousands of confirmed kills, and who knows how many more. Survivors of a fallen legion. Some said they more metal than flesh. Others said that after so much time fighting alongside the Jedis, they had learned some of their powers. Many thought they were actually a lie, a legend created by the Republic to spread fear in the hearts of their enemies. But on one thing all the rumors agreed. Whoever faced Hell Squad met death.

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Dageer noticed the Christophsian general looking weirdly at him, and frowned. His glare carried hints of admiration, curiosity, and... fear? The commander wasn't sure as to why Taka was looking at him like that, but he didn't really care. Most civilians feared clones, because they represented war, and were fearsome looking. The general was a soldier, however, so he shouldn't feel like that.

Dageer rarely talked to anyone apart from his brothers and Ragout. He had no idea that the tales of Hell Squad had spread across the galaxy.

However, the battle hadn't been nearly as intense as Taka thought it had. Neither Hell Squad nor Ragout were dumb enough to think they could take on sixty thousand droids. So, after distracting them for the time it was needed for the Christophsians to leave their hiding holes, it was pretty much a normal battle. Obviously, Thrawn had ordered his army to focus fire on them, but there was little they could do when they were being attacked by an enemy almost four times their own, ill-prepared or not.

Each of the members of Hell Squad had received their share of injuries, but that was one of the few times they had the luxury of just hiding after being shot, instead of pressing on fighting. Because of that, they were able to avoid any casualties. If the ones attacking were their brothers, instead of the Christophsian Army, they wouldn't have done so. The cold truth was that they didn't care nearly as much for the natives as they did for the other clones. Family above all else.

Still, they had been able to avoid fatal injuries, that's all. For anyone looking, there were more holes in their armor than unharmed spots. Both Dab and Brain had one of their arms immobilized, and were limping hard. Cell still had to recover from the explosion of a wrist rocket, but Three-four said he would be okay. The medic had been hit on the shoulder, thigh, and left side of his body, but luckily, no organs were damaged. That meant he was in a lot of pain, but no danger.

Metal was the one who had it worse of them all. A thermal detonator sent him flying, resulting in a broken leg, and a dislocated shoulder. Three lasers had also found their way to his arm, leaving him with only one good limb. Tech had survived mostly unscathed, apart from two lasers that hit his blast padding. As for Dageer, a laser had grazed his side, and another would two put his left arm out of use for a few days. However, that was all.

Ragout, even though he was a Jedi, hadn't fared much better than Hell Squad. He was the primary target of every clancker on the proximity. He had a bandage wrapped around his head, and another on his right shoulder and chest.

Overall, they were all okay.

And, better than that, they had managed to capture Thrawn. Dageer had almost killed him, but Ragout stopped him. The commander was hesitant, since he had many bad experiences with leaving enemies alive, but orders were orders.

"Your plan has crumbled around you, Thrawn. Even if we can't win on the frontlines, at least we will hold on for a while more. Besides, without their strategist, I doubt the tin cans can plan anything better than marching forward."

The Chiss smiled, not angered. He seemed resigned to his fate. Dageer didn't like that. He was a dangerous foe, and he had already proven that.

"General..."

"No, Dageer. He is a prisoner. I can't let you kill him in cold blood, and you know that."

Dageer knew from the start that the Jedi's convictions wouldn't let him agree with him. Still, he thought it was his duty to point out their options. Thrawn was too dangerous to be left alive.

"We could simulate an escape, sir. When that happens, we have the right to..."

"That's enough, Dageer! I know that has been done before. That you have done it before. But I do not abide by it. You should know me better than to suggest that."

Dageer shrugged, and let go of the matter. He didn't have the morals of the Jedis, but he also didn't want to change Ragout. As a subordinate, he gave a suggestion. It was his superior's choice to accept it or not.

"Hahaha... I underestimated you, Master Jedi. I studied those lowly Christophsians, and never thought they would have the spirit to revolt. However, I didn't account for... External influences. That was a valuable lesson, however. Next time I will be more careful."

Thrawn laughed even with a lightsaber on his neck, which almost made Ragout regret his decision of leaving him alive. Almost.

"Bring him in. And make him stay quiet."

Dageer nodded, and kicked the Separatist, sending him into unconsciousness. It was brutal, but Thrawn deserved a lot worse for all the inhumane and ruthless tactics he used against the Clone Army.

Ragout, in a very uncharacteristic show of indifference for a Jedi, completely ignored Dageer's actions, and, after nodding to Taka, left. The battle was still going on the frontlines, and he was needed.

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War had changed Ragout, more than it did to any other padawan. Some, like Bariss Offee - with whom Hell Squad had fought alongside before - had fallen to the dark side. Not Ragout. General Di's teachings were deeply engraved in his heart, and he trusted the Force to lead him to the correct path. But he had long understood that good manners and mercy wouldn't bring an end to this terrible war.

The young Togruta merged what he was taught with what he had learned. He was a Jedi, but he was also a soldier. If anyone threatened his brothers, he would retaliate, and he wouldn't be kind.

Ragout was following his own path, one that the Jedi Order wouldn't approve, but that he knew it was necessary for survival. He wasn't in the light nor the darkness. He was in the grey area in between, and he needed to build his path from scratch.