Chapter 78 - Dooku's Apprentice

Hiigi slid down faster and faster, his head, back and hands slamming on the sides repeatedly, leaving many bruises. Then, the hole ended, and he slammed on the ground, his legs exploding in pain.

Struggling to get up, he looked around. The room he was now was illuminated by green lights, and was circular. While he was wondering what to do, the creepy voice appeared once more.

"Insect, you are weak. I don't understand why my master chose you. But if you can't survive this, then I am sure he will agree that choosing you was a mistake."

"What dooo I have tooo survive?"

"KaKaKaKaKa..."

As an answer, from another hole in the ceiling, two droids wearing cloaks fell. They rolled on the ground and split, starting to surround Hiigi. On their hands, a metal rod appeared, and on both ends of it, purple lightning appeared.

"KaKaKaKa... cough, cough! KaKa... Those are only the first battle you will fight, insect... cough! KaKaKaKa..."

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Since his conversation with Commander Keeli, Dageer thought a lot about what his commander said, and realized that he was right. Dageer had indeed forgotten his place as a soldier, and that he couldn't be afraid of starting a battle. He wasn't fighting only for the Republic, but for a galaxy in which he and his brothers could be free, and that galaxy would only become reality if they win the war.

With all that in mind, Dageer shared his experiences in underwater combat - about two hours of it - with every clone he could. That could be the difference between life and death in the battle of Mon Cala.

...

When they came out of hyperspace they arrived just behind the Republic fleet already there. On the distance, very far away, was the Separatist fleet. They must have detected General Di fleet before it got out of hyperspace, because they were already arranging defensive formations.

But they obviously didn't know that the Republic was going to send aid for Mon Cala, since they didn't attack, but waited for the Republic move.

As per discussed before, half of the CR90s on General Di fleet immediately descended on the planet. Their objective was to drop troopers on Mon Cala. Since less they only had diving and underwater equipment for less than half of the legion, only two regiments - about 4.000 clones - would fight on the planet. The rest would stay on the cruisers, either to board Separatist sh.i.p.s or defend against them.

Hell Squad was among the ones who would be dropped, but the Separatist wouldn't let them get there easily.

Mon Cala was basically an ocean, and as such, there was nothing like outposts, bases and else. The battles would take place directly in the cities, and four thousand clones could make all the difference there.

So, as soon as their objective became clear, the Separatist moved to intercept. Vulture droid after Vulture droid speed towards them, and the same amount of Republic starfighters went to meet the incoming enemy.

Inside one of the corvettes, Dageer reassured his opinion that this was the worse moment of any invasion. He was fine with fighting on the group or underwater, attacking or defending, alone or with his brothers, but not inside a ship. He couldn't do anything, only hope that he wasn't the next to be blown by the droids.

At the cost of many pilots lives, including some of Steel Battalion, only two corvettes were lost on their way.

The bottom part of the CR90 opened, and Dageer, this time using much better-prepared equipment, told the clones to jump, squad by squad.

Hell Squad was the last. Dageer watched his brothers jump, then sent his squad members.

"Tech, Three-four! Now! Brain, Metal! Go down! Cel, Dab! Your turn!"

Hell Squad jumped, hitting the water and creating splashes. The last man on the corvette, Dageer connected the tubes on his diving mask and drooped from the ship. Feet first, the water enveloped him.

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Kalee, in a room on the mountain complex.

Hiigi gasped hard. At his feet was the body of a crab-like creature, and a broken half of Hiigi's vibro-trident was trespassing its head.

Hiigi knelt on the ground. His clothes were ragged and his body full of wounds. His left hand was wrapped in a bloodied bandage, and this little finger was missing.

The room was full of bodies, most of them being a type of droid called MagnaGuard, but also a lot of different creatures, all of them deadly. The voice that Hiigi had been hearing for the last three days appeared as soon as he killed his enemy, just like he expected.

"Cough! Cough... cough! Mon calamari, you have passed the test that my master left for you..."

Hiigi unexpectedly laughed so hard that his wounds started bleeding again.

"Cough... cough! What is so funny?"

"Yoooou... yooou called me 'mon calamari' nooot insect. Hahahaha!"

The voice was startled for a moment.

"You are still an insect. But an... cough... cough... cough! But an insect who passed my master's test. Cough! You survived three days fighting every twenty minutes. Cough... cough! I will train you. KaKaKaKaKa..."