Weeks of careful planning is a must, weeks of gathering intel, of resources poured into one missions, calling in favors, getting a ship that can bypass the Empire’s security, getting a basic trooper outfit, unpainted, getting falsified papers…
But they’re ready.
They’re going to do this for Obi-Wan’s sake.
To set Obi-Wan’s mind at peace, because Obi-Wan’s wide eyes is something the troopers are all too used to seeing when Vader marches in on a place that has rumored to have held Obi-Wan with Cody at his sake.
For him, they are getting Cody out.
Its not that they don’t want to, of course not, if they could, the would get all their brothers out of the hell that is the chips…
But they don’t have the resources for all of them, they can’t bring them all out, as much as they desperately wants to. To save every last one of their brothers from the Empire and the snake at the top, leading everything.
However, they can’t.
They don’t have the resources for it, they don’t have the space and they don’t have the manpower to do it.
They do bring some vod out of it, when they can, a squad they come over, knocking them out and taking them to the medbay of their ships, getting them dechipped and rescued. But not as many as they wished they could.
Cody however is bait and they all know it, he’s bait for Obi-Wan.
They had all known that from the moment they had seen the blank eyed Commander, their vod, marching beside Vader, as if he didn’t have morals anymore.
Cody had always had strong morals, had them from the moment he was decanted on Kamino and under General Kenobi, they had only been fortified as he learned and saw more of the world and of the Jedi behavior.
Cody was a man of honor, morals and justice.
The blank eyed man was not Cody.
Couldn’t be Cody.
But he would be Cody again.
That was why Rex was on Coruscant, dressed in the white of a shiny from salvaged armor, following the commander silently.
Around him, others from Homebase were following equally silent, all of them grim but determined.
The plan was simple.
Follow Cody until he was alone, hypo him, keep him in place until he was out, deprive him of armor in case of trackers and bring him to the ship they had bartered from a smuggler with the falsified papers.
Then they ran.
Cody was making it hard though, most of the day he had been with Vader, making it impossible to approach him and Rex honestly worried that if he got too close, Vader would feel that it was him.
It was one of those things, when Vader had been General Skywalker, had always been nice, that the man always knew who his troopers were and called them by name.
Now it was a nuisance.
Dangerous.
So they had to use distance.
Only Lamb could approach without worry as Lamb was not part of the 212th or the 501st, he had been a shiny from 612th and therefore Vader had never meet him. So he had been set on trail duty for most of the day, keeping the other appraised through their private and protected comms.
They did have one scare, when one of Tarkin’s lackeys had tried to send them of to the other side of Coruscant but had managed to get out of it. By sending another team of troopers unfortunately, they didn’t like taking advantage of their own, mindwashed brothers but they didn’t have much choice.
They had to get Cody and they had to get him soon.
‘Hold on Obi-Wan… soon Cody will be home with us… just don’t do anything stupid.’ Rex bit his lips, eyes on the back of his black armored brother, wondering how many Jedi the other had murdered in his state.
Under Vader’s orders.
‘Force, I don’t ask for much, but please let it be zero.’ Rex swallowed.
There is something extremely cathartic to be able to share Obi-Wan’s bed.
To be able to watch him breath slowly and steadily, his lined face at peace and almost young looking despite the grey at his temple and in his beard as he breathes slowly and steadily, a slight snore escaping him.
When Obi-Wan, shyly and a tad uncertain, had asked if Rex wanted to share quarters…
Well, Rex had been honored and relieved.
He knew the other had nightmares often and the idea of being able to keep an eye on his boyfriend, to help him work through the nightmares…
Well, he had jumped on the offer, knowing how difficult it had been for Obi-Wan after everything he had been put through by Vader. For the other to share himself like this again, to share bed and intimate space with someone, it was a huge step and Rex knew it.
It was why he had been stunned and happy when Obi-Wan had slowly drawn him into bed and curled into him, resting his head on the blond’s collarbone while tucking his own leg between Rex’s own.
From the looks of it, he had slept well from what Rex saw, the two sleeping face to face, having shifted in the night.
Unable to resist, Rex reached out to push the others hair out of his face, teasing the strands behind his ear.
Playing slowly with the growing length of hair, Rex couldn’t help but smile at the other’s sleeping face.
Obi-Wan was so stressed or lost often, ever since order 66 and his stint as Vader’s ‘doll’ and seeing this, seeing how him relaxed, soft, warm and pliant, was a gift to be treasured.
Some days, Rex couldn’t help but wonder how he, a clone, could be granted this.
If it should have been anyone, it should have been Cody, who had worked the closest with Obi-Wan.
‘But he’s not here, not yet. And Obi-Wan…’ Rex had always harbored some feelings for the redheaded Jedi. But in the war, he had put it aside and simply kept onto his fondness for the man while being professional.
Now there was no GAR, they were no longer an army and they did not follow the Rebellion after they had tried to use Obi-Wan.
Rex would never work with someone that had been willing to trade Obi-Wan back to Vader, nor would any other clone that was free and that had ever been in contact with the Jedi.
“…I can feel you staring at me.” Obi-Wan’s sleep rasped voice brought Rex out of his thoughts and he chuckled softly, resting his hand on Obi-Wan’s cheek as green eyes flickered open to peer sleepily at him, Obi-Wan smiling softly.
“Good morning.” Rex murmured quietly, not wanting to break the soft, slow moment of the morning schedule of their ship.
“Mmmn… morning.” Obi-Wan sighed happily, shifting closer to Rex. He slid a heavy, warm arm around Rex waist, tugging him in.
Willingly, Rex went, their knees knocking together lightly as they curled up chest to chest, head on their respective pillows. They really should be getting up, they had duties to preform on Homebase and breakfast to eat before that but…
To just lay there, in their bed, sharing the warmth and comfort was a luxury Rex intended to enjoy.
“Your hair is getting long.” He noted softly, teasing his fingers through the copper lengths.
The words got a quiet laugh, Obi-Wan reaching out to tease Rex hair in return, a grin growing on his face. “So is yours… do you like it?” He wondered curiously.
“Mine or yours?” Rex hummed, smirking slightly at the wry look he got in return. “I have to say, I don’t mind it. While in the GAR, it was just easier to just buzz it but now…” Rex shrugged, smiling happily. “I do like yours too though, it suits you.” He twirled the lock of hair around his finger.
Obi-Wan sighed happily at the touch, humming happily. “Well, if you want a haircut, just tell me.” He stated a tad dreamily and Rex felt a stab in his stomach.
‘It should be Cody here, having this, getting this offer…’ Guilt and love warred in him as he pulled the other to him and held onto Obi-Wan, nuzzling slowly.
i kinda wanted to colour this drawing anyway because i was so happy with it, but after @norcumi wrote this wonderful fic partly based off of/inspired by my sketch i figured i might as well tweak it so it matches better with the context/time/setting there, and, well, here it is
i kinda wanted to colour this drawing anyway because i was so happy with it, but after @norcumi wrote this wonderful fic partly based off of/inspired by my sketch i figured i might as well tweak it so it matches better with the context/time/setting there, and, well, here it is
Pressing his fist to his mouth, Rex frowned slowly at the screen.
Around him, quiet chatter sometimes broke through his thoughts, others contemplating the same thing as he did, the sight of their brother at Vader’s side.
And yet not at the same time.
Cody was too empty eyed to be fully himself, just like every other vode under the chips control.
A lot were worried about bringing them out of that control too, several vode had bitten the end of their blasters once their sanity came back to them and Rex heart twinged painfully as he thought of Bly.
It was no secret that he had broken out of the programming only to realize what he had done.
The 327th were without a commander within the hour of Bly breaking through the chips programming, the horror and self loathing of knowing he had shot down Aayla, most likely being the one who aimed the killing shot, being too much for him.
He was one of many unfortunately.
Many vode who managed to circumvent the chips couldn’t live with the guilt, others went kamikaze, trying to take out the Emperor or important depots.
But some managed to find their way to Homebase and the other ships, joining the brothers that had rebelled.
Cody however would be safe to bring out of his chip, his Jedi was here, alive and if not well, then at least healing and just as capable as always.
He might feel guilt for shooting down the Jedi but…
Well, it was better than Bly or Blood, the latter spent every moment not on duty getting drunk and several of the medics were considering intervening.
So far Rex was holding off on signing the medics the power, Blood was still mourning her general but if she didn’t in a week or two stop drinking, he’d have no other choice but to let the medics sober her up and pretty much force her into therapy.
“What do you think Rex?” The voice cut through the blonds thought.
Looking up, Rex blinked at Wolffe with confusion, the hologram flickering in and out due to interferance.
The man huffed. “Told ya all he wasn’t listening.” He grunted, glancing at the rest of the room.
Shaking his head, sitting up, Rex sighed. “Sorry, I was thinking about Blood. Medics are on my tail about her and if she doesn’t show signs to mellowing soon, I’m going to have to give them emergency power.” He murmured.
There was a round of grimace.
While everyone understood why Blood was as she was at the moment, that didn’t mean they had to like it. To see another vod harm themselves so…
“What were you saying Wolffe?” Rex questioned, leaning forward to show he was paying attention finally.
“Cody,” Wolffe tapped at the screen he had, most likely playing the same vid Rex had of Cody. “What if we sent a message to him, lured him away from Skywalker and then knocked him out?” He questioned.
Wincing slightly at his former General’s name, having gotten used to simply calling him Vader, Rex frowned. “I’m not sure… he doesn’t leave Vader’s side much.” He stated warily.
To that Wolffe nodded. “True, but I’m thinking we grab him on Coruscant. No one is going to pay attention to a few clones on Coruscant. He’s still our vode under that helmet, if one of us approaches him and asks for him to meet him…” He trailed off.
“It is as good a plan as any,” Gree murmured, his hologram steadier due to their ship closeness to the Homebase. “Its how we managed to get Funk actually, their personality is still under there, its just messing with the part that was loyal to the Jedi I think.”
Frowning heavily, sitting back in his chair, Rex slowly rubbed his chin. “…We’d have to go about it extremely careful, no slip up or the demagolka will realize something is up.” He stated slowly, ignoring the bug eyed look some of his vode sported.
So he called Vader a demagolka, so what?
After all the things Vader had done now, the things he had done to the galaxy, to the surviving Jedi, to Obi-Wan… how could he not?
Whoever Vader had been before, that wasn’t who he was anymore.
There was nothing left of the kind, brave and sometimes reckless General that Rex knew, the one that remembered the name of every trooper and tried to minimize their fatality. The man that sat with Rex after Kadavo.
The man Rex had once loved, if purely in a platonic manner.
“Riiiight… actually, I had an idea for that,” Doom stated, leaning forward in his seat, eyes glancing nervously between Wolffe and Rex. “But it would mean getting you on Coruscant Rex.”
Brows raising and arms crossing over his chest, Rex tilted his chin. “Go on…”
Nervously, Doom lined out his plan to the room of former commanders and captains.
Standing at attention, watching Vader pace on the bridge and occasionally pausing to seemingly stare out into the sky, Cody let his mind wander slightly.
When the order had come through that he was being transferred from the 212th on Kamino to Vader’s own Fist, Cody had been excited at the honor of being the left hand of Lord Vader himself.
He had been reduced to working on Kamino after the end of the clone wars with the CIS and the clean up of the Jedi, training new vode, and while that was rewarding, Cody wasn’t a teacher.
He had been raised to fight and he had been exited to join Lord Vader himself, already aware of the man’s reputation from before the war and then later on, the man fighting on the front line with the troopers.
Cody had been so optimistic.
Or that had been his initial emotions.
After about a month of watching the man’s utter ruthlessness in battle, using Cody’s own vode as shields at time and throwing them around without thoughts, Cody no longer could consider it an honor and worked more to keep his brothers as safe as possible from the menace in black.
Especially the less experienced ones.
He half expected to be on the receiving end of one of these deadly assault, particularly the snapping of his neck, when he interfered.
And yet, regardless of how clearly enraged the yellow eyed man became as he glowered at Cody, he never went as far as killing him
Choking him with the Force, yes, killing him, no.
And Cody could not for the life of him understand why.
There were other commanders able to take over for him, which meant that there was a reason for why Vader had transferred him, outside of Cody’s skills.
So he couldn’t make sense of why he kept surviving when other vod did not.
‘What’s different about me…’ Cody let his eyes slide to the blond haired man glaring out into the sky before he resumed pacing. ‘What are you thinking Lord Vader…’ Cody narrowed his eyes faintly, safe in his own mind that the Sith could not hear his mind.
He had been taught how to shield his mind just in case by…
A spike of pain throbbed through Cody’s brain and he clenched his teeth together to avoid hissing, not wanting the attention of the clearly enraged man on him.
‘The Doll…’ Cody took a breath through his nose. ‘Is it really that simple? Could it really be the Doll?’ Cody let his mind space, not daring to think of the name or the former title of the man as every time he did, his mind echoed with pain.
And the faint stirrings of a memory.
Of Rex and whispered words and the name Fives.
Glancing at the Sith once more, Cody stiffened to attention as yellow eyes landed squarely on him.
He would have to take care of those memories later.
()()()
Spooning Obi-Wan, one arm tucked around the former Jedi and his other settled under his own head, Rex let out a small sigh into the others neck.
Obi-Wan just pressed back into him, fingers slowly caressing the back of Rex hand as the captain rested it on Obi-Wan’s stomach.
Since Obi-Wan calmed down they had finally managed to settle down, curled up on Rex bunk together as Rex wrapped himself protectively around his redhead. He had removed the nerftail tie, the long length resting down Obi-Wan’s back on the bed, smelling faintly of fruits from the soap they had picked up.
He knew from Kix that sleeping on a hair tie was not a comfortable experience and had opted to remove it as they curled down together.
Because he had known from the moment Obi-Wan started to calm down that they wouldn’t be leaving the room any time soon, the clear exhaustion and outright depression visible on Obi-Wan’s face telling Rex that Obi-Wan just needed time.
And Rex had water bottles in his room, so while they preferred to have Obi-Wan eat full meals, they were also accepting of him eating snacks and drinking water. “…We’re going to have to talk about your actions you know.” Rex whispered tiredly into the others neck.
Squeezing Rex hand, Obi-Wan let out a small noise. “I know… but please can we wait until I’ve slept? I really just…” He sighed deeply and Rex felt his heart constrict with pain.
He knew that Obi-Wan still struggled quite a bit with the after effects of the Sith drug Vader had kept him on and to see the former proud General reduced to blankness hurt.
But even worse was to see him like this, emotionally unstable and uncertain as he clung to the minor comforts Rex could give him.
Instead of verbalizing all that, Rex simply nodded and nuzzled his nose into the back of his Jedi’s neck. “…If there comes a chance Obi-Wan… we’ll save him. I promise. But right now…” Rex trailed off, wincing as Obi-Wan’s breath hitched before it came out as a soft keen.
There was nothing to do for that and so they simply laid in bed, Obi-Wan watching the wall and Rex watching the back of Obi-Wan’s neck, both consumed in their thoughts.
Much to his utter relief and bewilderment, Obi-Wan has not fled so to speak.
Rex finds the Jedi sitting in the cockpit of one of the ships, simply staring at the view screen with his eyes lost and his hands in his lap.
Behind him, Dume is shifting uncertainly but Rex can’t bring himself to think of the boy right now as he instead slowly approaches Obi-Wan and rests his hand on the others shoulder.
He gets a flinch, Obi-Wan clearly coming back to the situation at hand as he looks up at Rex, the two staring mutely at each other.
Finally, Obi-Wan spoke. “I want him back… how dare Vader use him like that…” He whispered, tone utterly wretched and broken and Rex let out a small noise before crouching down and hugging the Jedi, running his hand over Obi-Wan’s messy nerftail, stroking it carefully before resting his arms around him.
“I know. I know it hurts. He was your commander and my brother. Seeing him like that…” Rex trailed off, Obi-Wan letting out a little hitched breath before letting out a small sob against Rex shoulder.
When he had come back to Homebase, the first thing he had done was start searching the hanger, looking into every ship.
Because while the others knew Obi-Wan, Rex knew him best, both the man he was during the war and the man that had come out of Vader’s clutches broken but healing.
The only other people that knew Obi-Wan as well as he, would be Cody and one Anakin Skywalker.
Which is why Rex had made a direct beeline to the most derelict of the ships, already knowing the history of Anakin and Obi-Wan to know that this was the ship the other man would choose, this was the ship the other would be in.
The one he would try to fly.
And he had been right.
Where the others hadn’t been able to find Obi-Wan as he locked himself down from the Force and removed any trackers, Rex found him because he didn’t need any of those items to find his Obi-Wan.
Pressing their cheeks together, Rex let out a small noise and then shifted, until he could reach and pick up the other man, settling his hands below each of Obi-Wan’s thighs. And Obi-Wan’s arms came up around Rex neck in response, a muffled sob escaping into Rex shoulder as the former captain stood with the Jedi in his arms.
Turning while adjusting his grip on Obi-Wan, Rex gave Dume a long look as he gazed at them with his mouth open.
But instead of saying something, Rex just started walking, moving forward with Obi-Wan in his grasp.
He was meet by Helix on the outside of the shuttle, the medic face becoming one of pure relief as he watched the former captain with the Jedi.
“Take care of him.” Rex murmured to the medic, nodding to Dume, the former padawan freezing in place when he saw another clone.
Helix however just nodded, giving Dume a small smile and gesturing for him to follow as Rex moved off with Obi-Wan in his arms. Along the way to his quarters, several troopers stopped what they were doing, clearly having been on search too.
Relief covered their faces and several went for their comms to inform others that Obi-Wan had been found.
The troopers always reacted with extreme prejudice anytime any of their remaining Jedi were in danger or missing.
And to find Obi-Wan of all people missing, knowing that his fate would not simply be death but a return to his state as Vader’s doll?
Well, they were protective for a reason.
Rex pressed his cheek to Obi-Wan’s temple, awkwardly fumbling for his keypad when he reached his quarters only to breath out in relief when Lamb hurried over and helped him, the young clone getting the door open as he watched with large, concerned eyes.
Rex just nodded to his fellow blond trooper and stepped in, letting the door snap shut behind him as he stepped around the clothing items he had abandoned on the floor that morning.
He knew that they would have to talk about what Obi-Wan had almost done later, he knew that Obi-Wan needed a lot more help than any might have realized as he had almost run off and into a known trap but right in that moment all Rex did was to sit down on his bunk with Obi-Wan straddling his lap.
Both hurt, the knowledge of where Cody was and yet the helplessness in knowing they couldn’t rescue him.
The helplessness in knowing it was a trap.
Rocking Obi-Wan, Rex didn’t promise things were going to be okay.
Because he couldn’t.
Because he couldn’t promise that they could rescue Cody.
So instead he just rocked him, crooning quietly as Obi-Wan sobbed harshly into his shoulder, the noise echoing of Rex quarter walls.
Staring at the teen in shock, Rex almost felt like he could either
sing or facepalm and curse.
Either
or would be an appropriate reaction right now really as the former
clone captain stared down at the frightened yet furious face of Caleb
Dume.
An
almost adult Caleb Dume with a little stubble and longish hair for
sure and therefore different and clearly the other had made an effort
to change himself but still recognizable to Rex despite Dume growing
up a since Rex last saw him.
But
Rex still recognized him as he held the other by the wrist to prevent
him from going for the blaster on his belt.
Not
that Dume really needed it.
‘But…’
Rex glanced towards the white armored men stomping around the market.
‘He can’t risk doing that here or now.’ Thinking quickly, Rex
jerked the teen closer and quickly pulled his ratty hood up. “Cane
my boy!” He announced loudly, outright trying to get attention as
he sent of a prayer of gratitude to Lamb for insisting that everyone
wore helmets or hoods for the milk run as they had come to call their
little supply runs. “Where’s that father of yours, he still owes
me quite a bit of credits?” He stated in a cheerful tone even as he
angled his face so the Imperial troopers couldn’t recognize his
face as one of their own.
He
mentally begged the kid to understand what was going on, already
seeing the clone troopers loose interest in the situation as Rex had
loudly announced what was going on.
Turquoise
blue eyes widened a bit in confused surprise before narrowing again.
“Yeah… he’s here… I guess.” He reluctantly stated and
considering Rex was supposedly collecting on a bet, that reluctance
and spite in the teen wouldn’t be too suspicious.
“Well,
I guess I’ll just have to tail you then around. Can’t get away
from debts owed you know kiddo,” He tacked on a short laugh,
keeping his arm around Dume as he started walking, half pulling the
kid along as he lowered his voice. “Please Dume, for the love of
the Force, play along, you don’t have to trust me but for both our
sake, play the kark along.” He whispered desperately, the crowd
around them and the wind covering up his voice for the most part.
Eyes
narrowed, Dume gritted his teeth but nodded, following reluctantly
and Rex could almost feel the killing intent in the boy.
Ugh
teen?
Kark,
natural borns sometimes confused him frankly and he was never quite
sure what age Dume was, just that he was General Depa’s little
padawan.
Guiding
him along quickly, Rex continued cheerfully telling ‘Cane’ about
all the things he was going to do with the money ‘Cane’s’
father owed him and considering the confused and almost amused
expression that sometimes broke out on Dume’s face when the street
lights illuminated his face, it was clear he knew this was a gimmick
by now.
Finally
they got towards the less traveled paths, leaving the troopers behind
with both of them glancing back and Rex carefully looking the alleys
and paths over.
Quickly
he pulled the Jedi into one of them and breathed out. “Jango’s
blood kid, what are you doing here? Do you know how close to the core
you are?” He whispered harshly, eyes slightly wide and whatever he
expected, that was not it as Dume blinked dumbly up at him, his long
hair fluttering slightly along with his hood.
But
let it never be said that Jedi younglings didn’t have spirit as he
squared himself up as best he could, the gangly teen becoming quite
tall as he was clearly going to get taller than Rex. “What’s it
to you, clone, would have thought you’d rat me out to the
others.” He stated bitterly, spite and anger in his voice.
Narrowing
his eyes in return, Rex let out a grumble before just grabbing Dume
by one of his big ears to make sure he didn’t escape while Rex was
busy.
The
teen yelped and tried to get away even as Rex held on with a
durasteel grip as he reached into his belt, Dume tensing up only to
turn confused when Rex pulled up a holo communicator. “What are
yo-”
“I’m
calling Master Plo,” He stated sternly before softening when he saw
sudden vulnerability bloom into Dume’s eyes. “Yeah… there are
others alive.” Rex stated a tad softer, putting in the memorized
code.
None
of the troopers had the Jedi’s code on their comms, all were to be
memorized, just in case.
For
safety.
Plo
picked up instantly, the Kel Dor going from relieved to disappointed
in seconds. “Captain, have you seen Obi-Wan?” The man wheezed out
before Rex could say anything. “We can’t find him.” Plo rubbed
his chest.
Letting
go off Dume, Rex entire focus fell on the Jedi master instead, his
heart thundering with sudden fear and suspicion. “No, he’s not
with me. Check if all the ships are still gathered, that none of the
smaller ships have been taken out. I’m coming back from the milk
run,” He glanced to Dume, finding him staring at the holo of Plo.
“And I’m bringing a guest with me that might turn into a
permanent resident depending.” He tacked on.
“You
suspect something.” Plo murmured before sighing and nodding in
confirmation, turning and calling for Shaak and captain Luver, that
they had to reach out to the ships
‘Please
cyare…don’t do what I think you might be doing.’ Rex pulled
Dume with him via his shoulder, hurrying to his transport shuttle
that he took down from Homebase, feeling like the devil was on his
heels as he ran.
SWpromptsandask 