Deadcember Day 23
Alt. Taking the Fall
Note: Everything for Deadcember will be from the same fanfic, a fanfic which I created just for this. Lol. Just keep in mind that everything is not as it seems. ;)
“You disobeyed my direct orders!” Anakin hears Krell snarling as the doors to the command room on Umbara slide open. Krell stands glowering at Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase. The only other clone in the room is Appo, which makes Anakin briefly wonder where Rex is. None of them turn to look at Anakin as he enters.
“I ordered them to do it, sir,” Appo speaks up, taking a step towards the Besalisk.
“What’s going on here?” Anakin demands, walking a little further into the room. Now that he’s back, whatever it is that Krell is so upset about is something that Anakin can handle himself.
Again no one pays him any attention, which he supposes might make sense for the clones since they’re talking to their current commanding general, but why is Krell not even paying any attention to him? Unless he’s way too caught up in whatever is going on right now.
“Since you are determined to take the fall for their actions, CT-1119, you can take the punishment, too.” Krell growls, suddenly igniting his lightsaber. Anakin doesn’t have more than a second to realize what he’s about to do, before the Besalisk runs the blade right through Appo’s chest.
“What?!” Anakin all but screams, staring in horror as Appo’s dead body collapses to the floor. What is going on here? What. Just. Happened?!
“It was necessary,” Krell replies coldly, “Your men have no respect for me, and such insubordination could not be tolerated any longer.”
So that’s – that’s his excuse for murdering one of the 501st? As if there was nothing to it, and right in front of his brothers?! How can he even be a Jedi if he does things like this? For a moment, Anakin’s gaze drops back to Appo’s body lying motionless on the floor. He was one of higher-ranking clones, and therefore, one of the ones Anakin had spent a great deal of time around, even if not as much as some of the others like Rex, Fives, and Echo.
And now he’s dead. Not even from a battle but murdered senselessly by this excuse for a Jedi. “Well, you’re being relieved of duty, Krell,” Anakin growls, igniting his lightsaber. Krell will pay for what he did; Anakin will make certain of it.
(He sees the vague image of Appo following him – hundreds of clones behind them – as they walk up the steps of the Temple, something sinister and dark in the air around them.)