Chapter 91 - Respect (1/2)

Somewhere in the space.

Ragout and Dageer were walking alongside. It was the day after the battle of Mon Cala, and the padawan had asked Dageer to show him around.

The Togruta was still a kid, although his mind was much stronger than the one of a normal child. It was obviously something new to him, seeing all the military pieces of equipment, and the serious-looking soldiers.

”Here is the main hangar, where most of the Laats are stored.”

”That is the weapon deposit. I'm afraid you can enter there. It is a controlled area.”

”Why? I am a jedi padawan. Isn't my rank even above yours? When they sent me here they told me that I am only under my master.”

”That is not how things work here, kid. You might be a jedi apprentice, but that doesn't mean much to us. We were trained to follow your orders, however, you still have to earn our respect. Of course, if you order me to take you to the deposit, I will have to obey.”

Ragout frowned, obviously dissatisfied with the way Dageer put things. Dageer sighed. He forgot he was talking to a young and most probably full of pride padawan.

”I am sorry, I phrased that wrong. I didn't mean to diminish you. It is hard to explain just with words, you will understand way better when you fight your first battle.”

Ragout expression got a little better. Dageer decided that it was time to show the infirmary to the padawan He was sure that when the padawan saw the injured clones, he would understand what Dageer meant.

He guided Ragout in the corridors, getting saluted by each clone they saw. Dageer's helmet was very distinctive and a symbol that he carried with pride.

Two clones were guarding the doors to the infirmary, but they gave passage to Dageer and Ragout without saying a word. Medical droids and some medic clones were walking amongst the beds.

The infirmary of The Sincerity was the biggest of General Di's fleet, and as such, it was the best equipped. Because of that, it was also where the most badly injured clones were.

Lost limbs, debilitating wounds, all of those were being treated there. No matter how good the medical technology of the Republic was, there were still some clones who lost their lives. When that happened, they were sent to the crematorium, and their ashes were later sent to Kamino, home of all clones.

It was on such an occasion that Dageer and Ragout arrived. One clone that was missing his left leg had lost too much blood before being brought to the medical base, and didn't resist. Medical droids put the body in a litter, and when they passed, Dageer took off his helmet and mourned for another lost brother.

Ragout had a serious face when they left the infirmary, and Dageer thought that maybe he was being too harsh, showing such scenes to the padawan. But when he thought about how a battlefield was, he knew the padawan would face much worse.

”Ragout, do you know the reason why we respect General Di so much? It isn't just because he is our general. Every clone legion has one, and we all respect them. The reason is because of what you saw inside there. General Di wasn't only commanding us. He fought alongside us, and saved many of us. In war injuries and deaths are inevitable. What a soldier respect the most isn't some hero who killed thousands of enemies, but some unknown person who did his best to save as many as possible. Of course, General Di isn't unknown.”

”I... I think I understand now. At least a little. I guess... Ohhhhhhh! What is that?!”

The now-familiar alarms went off in the ship. Dageer put his helmet again, and ran, letting the padawan behind. He could recognize from where the alarms were going off, the cargo bay. He checked with Brain with he got something.