Chapter Text
The 79’s was full tonight.
The 501st legion was on leave after a two month of exhausting fighting on Ringo Vinda. They were supposed to stay another month, assisting the 296th corps of Commander Doom, but Chancellor Palpatine himself had requested a leave for the men of the 501st, citing that “their constant presence on the frontline during the last year amply granted them a leave”.
Nobody has protested so much since the chancellor had sent two Ringo Vinda the 431st and the 182nd legion in compensation.
Well, some people have protested, a little, but whoever listened to the Coruscant guard ?The so call “over glorified Senator nannies”.
Senior Commander Fox had filled a formal request, advising that instead of letting a whole legion on leave on Coruscant, to fragment it into battalions and accord leave battalion per battalion.
Clearly it was the better option, the war effort really didn’t need a whole legion pulled from the front, it would give the boys in blue some more relaxed duty before and after leave. Better than just pull them from the most intense warzone to throw them into the most peaceful planet of the Core.
And most importantly it would avoid the CSF and the Coruscant Guard to deal with a legion of the GAR most decorated and skilled hellraiser. The commanders of the Coruscant Guard, official designation 65th elite legion, had felt the headache in advance the moment they knew that Skywalker legion were coming home.On battle the 501st was one of the most resourceful and skilled legion, with a near unbroken streak of victory. But off battle, near the 79th? they were menaces, their less than mature and disciplined behaviour were merging bad with alcohol, minds of teenager, military training and behaviour genetically modified to be more violent, without talking about war traumas.
And then Fox had to shoot one of the 501st ARCs. Who also seemed to one of the favourite vod of Skywalker assigned officer and unofficial leader of the 501st, Captain Rex.
Yes, said ARC trooper was a fugitive, exhibited delirious behaviour and had assaulted the chancellor and several clones. And had pointed a gun toward the clones sent to apprehend him and rescue general Skywalker and captain Rex. But for the men of the 501st, those weren’t good enough excuse to shoot him right in the chest. And guess what? neither for Fox.
The Commander of the Coruscant Guard was sitting alone on chair at a table far from the main lobby. An empty glass in front of him, head in his hand. He was reviving the event at the warehouse. He was sure the blaster was on stunt; his blaster was always on stunt.
Then, how did they end on lethal shoot?
He kriffing didn’t knew, his mind was too busy replaying the death of ARC-5555 repeatedly. All that he could remember was him bursting into the warehouse, pointing his weapon at Fives, telling to stand down and get on his knee, seeing the ARC trooper yelling at them to stay back, taking a pistol, pointing it at Fox and his men. And then Fox shoot.
Clean hit, right through the chest, like at training, The prime clones, Jango Fett, would have been proud.
He remembers standing there, frozen by what he had done, he had never frozen, even in the thickest and most desperate firefight.
He remembers his men removing their buy’ce and forming a circle around the dying ARC trooper as he was comforted by Captain Rex, while he was standing there. Frozen.
The rest of the night passed in blur, from getting back to the Coruscant Guard Hangar, drone writing his report, sending it to the chancellor, seeing it was past workhour and taking a lift to the 79s with some other vod of the Coruscant Guard, demanding a Corellian whisky, walking to the table, removing his buy’ce, drinking the whiskey in one gulp and then taking his head in his hand, the reality of what he had done finally settling in.
To him it was like a distant memory, like when his body was functioning on training and instinct alone each time he was caught off guard. But there was two thing he remembered well.
Firstly, the Stare, from Rex, from General Skywalker, from his men. And most importantly those word, muttered by Rex when he had locked eyes with him at the warehouse. “Vod Kyramund” Brother killer, the worst crime a clone could ever commit toward his vod’e.
Well, he deserved it, he was a Vod Kyramund, a kinslayer, he had broken one of the most sacred untold code of the clone brotherhood. He felt numb, he wasn’t emotionally developed enough to be anything else than numb, and he was too much emotionally resilient to break down. And he was a clone, so go to see a therapist was out of question.
He bitterly chuckled, a clone could arrest a citizen without solid proof, to force a senator to show his paper without repercussion, to hack the senate archives. But seeing a therapist was out of question.
Sighing Fox put a hand to the shaved side of his hand and touched the tattoo on the side of his head. Vod Kyramund, yeah that’s what I am, guess I should be used to it.
Fox put the glass to his lips to constate in disappointment it was empty. he considered to go to the bar, who was crowded with 501st clones, well I he could go to the side of the bar, minimal chance of interaction with the 501st. and he saw some vod’e of the Coruscant Guard here and here, he could blend if he needed.
Fox sighed, got up and headed toward the bar.
“One Corellian Scotch, double shot” he asked the droid who manned this part of the bar.
The droid nodded and began to prepare Fox drink. In the meantime, Fox let his gaze wander around the bar, tasting into the brotherhood he would never ever feel again.
And he saw a empty glasses coming right at him.
He dived.
Kriff, couldn’t he just be left alone? He scanned the room to see if he could find the culprit. And he was not disappointed.
Three vod’e of the 501st were coming toward him, one was sporting the medic insignia, the other a tattoo of the republic symbol on his face and the last didn’t had any distinctive amor marking, but his haircut was the red stripes commemorating fallen comrades.
“What do you want, vod, muttered Fox, I’m too tired to do a Dha werda with you”.
“Like we wanted to do anything with a Vod Kyramund” snarled the guy with the Republic tattoo.
Tired, Fox was too tired for this.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that” Answered Fox.
“Like we’re going to pretend you didn’t kill one of our brother in cold blood?” snarled the one with the doubles, strip.
“Or like when you wrongly accused Tano and let your dogs loose on her” added the medic.
“HEY !!, screamed one of the clones of the Coruscant guard, who are you calling dogs, poster boy?”
“That’s you we are calling dogs, answered the one with the Republic tattoo, since you don’t know to do anything else expect been Tarkin lap dogs, dik’ut.”
“Oh yeah ? answered another Coruscant guard, his grey and red marking identified him as sergeant of the tracking unit, let’s talk about you then, you act all mighty and righteous, like you were the saviours of the universe, every damn time you come back on Triple Zero you look down at everyone one who don’t have blue or yellow strip as if they were retarded. Guess what dik’ut ? not everyone’s lucky enough to have the Chancellor boy-toy has general.”
It was at this moment that Rex showed up. “Hey!!, he yelled to the the sergeant, why don’t you take on take on someone your size.”
Ok, that was enough for Fox.
“Yeah Rex’ika, he sneered, why don’t you take on someone your size?”
Rex turned toward Fox, a murderous look on his face, he seemed furious and had drunk more than one glasses, but not drunk enough yet.
“As I ever wanted to do anything with you, di'kutla Vod Kyramund."
“Don’t insult the commander like that” said a Guard rising to Fox defence and pointing a fist toward Rex.
The 501st captain headbutted him, and all hell break loose.
The 501st and the Guard began to fight each other, Fox noticed in the blur that several other clones had joined the fight on both side.
Fox bolted toward Rex, tackling him to the ground and began to hammering his face. Rex blocked the third punch and in an impressive display of strength throwed Fox to the side.
Fox landed into a vod of the 327th who was fighting with a guy of the 501st. when the blue stripped clone tried to manhandle Fox to the ground the commander used his feet to kick in, sending flying to the feet of a clone of a 7th corps who was beaten up by a Galactic Marines.
With a groan Fox got up, quickly helped the vod from the 327th got up and knocked out a shiny without marking then resumed to search for Rex.
The captain was locked with the vod with the Republic tattoo in a fight with a Coruscant Guard and a vod from the 9th assault corp.
Fox sneaked behind the guy with the republic tattoo, who was the closest, grabbed him and send him flying to the nearest table.
“Jesse” yelled Rex.
Oh, so the dik’ut name was Jesse, good to know.
The guy from the 9st to throw a punch at Rex, taking advantage of the temporary distraction, but Rex saw it, avoided it, then took the arm before violently twisting it.
The poor vod from the 9st only let out a shot scream of pain.
Fox Punched Rex in the face, getting him to release the arm. Immediately after a para of the 7th tackled the other Coruscant guard to the ground.
Fox groaned, he hoped for number advantage.
While Fox was distracted Rex throwing at him a left hook. Taking Fox by surprise and forcing him to took one step back.
Rex tried to press his advantage, but Fox answered with an uppercut. Disorienting the captain just long enough for Fox to regain his footing and take a fighting stance.
Rex got the same idea and took a fight stance, slowly approaching Fox…
“ENOUGH” a voice boomed in the bar.
Fox turned toward the source of the voice, ready to scowl the dik’ut who had thought that interrupting a fight between two officer was a good idea….
Phase two Armor with BARC type helmet, standard captain marking, first generation kama, red pauldron, jaig eyes marking, dc-17 blaster pistol, ARC trooper style vambrace.
Fieferk
Fricking Alpha 77 Fordo was standing at the entrance of the 79, two Alpha ARC lieutenant were standing with him.
The whole bar went still. Every clones, from the shiniest shiny, to the baddest RC sergeant, to a Marshal Commander knew to not piss off an Alpha ARC. Those men could take on planet and Force users if they wanted.
And they were three of them, and they were looking murderous.
“By Dooku crinkly balls, Fordo said, I finally got a leave after two years of kicking seppy ass and what do I found? two decorated officer, the pride of the Great Army fighting each other like drunken idiot. Who need politicians when we got soldier like you?”
All the clone present in the bar looked away like scolded children.
Fordo approached Fox and Rex.
“So, tell me, why did you two genius, decided to recreate Kelblade fighting rings in here?”
“that red dik’ut killed….” intervened Jesse.
“you will talk when allowed cheap ARC, snarled Fordo, in the meantime be a good poster boy and shut your mouth.”
Jesse stopped to talk, he looked offended but at the good sense to not argue. The Null and Alpha ARC hadn’t taken kindly the promotion of regular trooper to the ARC statue, it was better to not throw oil at the fire.
“Now, said Fordo, talk, or I will get you to talk”.
Rex and Fox looked at each other, on wondering who shall begin.
Finally, Fox decided to be the one talking. “Captain Rex is pissed that I killed one of his men and that I participated in the framing of former commander Tano, explained Fox, but he forgot to mention that ARC trooper Five actions painted him as instable lunatic, plus the fact he was pointing a gun at my men and me, and he also forgot that former commander Tano run from us and proof pointed toward her be a homicidal maniac”.
Fordo turned toward Rex. “So, you’re angry that the Commander of the 65th is doing his job as best as he could? I knew Skywalker was bad influence”.
If look could kill Fox would be cold on the floor right now.
“The Commander of the 65th forgot to mention that he acted emotionally rather than logically during the manhunt of Commander Tano, spat Rex, and that he could have stunned Arc trooper Five rather than killing him”.
Those last word felt like a slap on Fox face, even him couldn’t understand why he set the blaster to kill. He was trained to be a professional, a lawman, a cop, and an investigator. The first rule that Cort Davin had taught him, was that killing was always the last solution not the first.
So why did he kill Five?
That question was still twisting Fox gut.
“I don’t know why I did that, said Fox, but I’m sorry for this”.
“You don’t know? snarled the medic while taking a step toward Fox, you don’t know? you kriffing Vod’ Kyramund”.
One of the Alpha ARC Lieutenant came to stand in front of the medic, it didn’t discourage the medic who tried to push him, only to end in the ground groaning with the ARC doing him an arm wrench.
“Everyone takes a chill stick! shouted Fordo, violence and anger would lead us nowhere, especially in that case”.
While Fordo was talking seven more Alpha ARC dressed in armour had entered the 79’s. the ARC captain had called reinforcement.
“If anyone wants to fight tonight, my men and I will gladly deal with you di’kut, but for now let’s try to remain calm and civil, Tayli-bac?”
Fox and Rex nodded, while glaring at the other while doing so.
“Fantkriffingtastic, continued Fordo, now that everyone is happy and love his neighbour, let’s continue, BARTENDER !!!!”
The droid serving at the bar collectively looked at him.
“Yes captain?”, they all said in the same voice.
“Force, I forgot it was clankers who manned this bar, muttered Fordo, anyway, Mandalorian black root ale for my ARCs and I, and lemon soda for all the other normies here, those lads are drunk enough for tonight.”
Wordlessly the droid began to prepare the drinks. While they were doing this Fordo said something in a private comm to his men who immediate began taking possession of three table, shooing away the previous occupant while other were heading toward the bar to take their drink.
“Okay you two, said Fordo to Fox and Rex, you’re coming with us, Killer let the medic go”.
Immediately the ARC released Kix, who get up while glaring at Killer who didn’t seemed to care at all.
Fordo lead Rex and Fox toward the tables the ARC had claimed and once sat they took their drink, black ale for the ARC and lemon soda for the two officer.
Fordo removed his helmet, revealing Jango Fett face with a small goatee and a short mohawk.
“K’oyacyi” he said raising his drink.
“K’oyacyi” the ARCs echoed, they also had removed their helmet, revealing a variety of bald head, mohawk and regular haircut. The special forces weren’t reputed to have daring or original look.
“K’oyacyi” said Rex and Fox raising their soda, their uneasiness showing.
Fordo took a gulp of his drink and wiped his mouth of the foam.
“Well, it’s not as good as the CSF social club but it’s still better than nothing, Fordo said, so what did you mean by you don’t know why you shoot it? “
“Are you sure it’s the best place to talk of this?” asked Rex before Fox could answer.
“udesii Rex’ika, one the bald ARC answered, we are watching the crowd and we hacked the bartender droids the second we entered, nobody spies on you without us knowing”.
Rex nodded, Alpha ARCs were pro, the best of the best, if they said they were safe then they were safe.
“Now that Rex paranoia had been calmed, Fordo said, could you please explain what you meant by you don’t know why you shoot him, I mean you said you deliberately pointed a set to kill blaster at him and you shoot him in the heart, right like training”.
Fox took a sip of his soda, the cold and sweet drink helped him focus, a little.
“I mean that I don’t know why I shoot him, I feel I was on autopilot during the intervention, you know, like I was moving but without thinking, I. I don’t want to shoot Five, Rex, I’m sorry, it goes against everything I believe, against everything I was taught, I swear”.
Rex eyes narrowed and tried to calmy analyse all the intel.
The Commander of the Coruscant Guard was a clone know for keeping his calm in every situation, with negotiation skill that rivalled Kenobi, a man who had never lost a hostage and who always captured the criminals, never killing them.
Yet at two occasion he had lost his calm and rushed and illogical decision, give a shoot to kill order against Ahsoka could be understandable no that he thought about it, especially after finding two slaughtered brother, but killing five? no he didn’t make any sense, especially with this man, unless….
“Did someone ordered you to kill five?”
Fox hesitated, trying to recall that horrible day. He had waited with the Chancellor all day, to protect him, until Fives had been found then Fox had been personal tasked by the Chancellor to lead a task force charged to arrest Fives.
Fieferk
Before leaving the Chancellor had taken him apart and talked to him
“this clone is a dangerous fugitive, he had said, of course it is better if he taken alive, but you should keep in mind take maybe this poor man is far too gone and it should be better to put him out of misery, for him and the Republic’s sake.”
Fox had nodded and headed toward the under level of Coruscant with a squad of the Coruscant Guard, with the result that everyone knows of.
“Palpatine…” Fox murmured.
“Palpatine?” asked Fordo.
“Yes, Palpatine talked to me before I went to hunt Five, he insinuated that Five was too dangerous and should be dealt with”.
Rex eyes widened.
“Buy’ce” he said.
Fox got the cue and put his helmet on, opening a private channel.
“Before dying Fives said that every clone had a chip in his brain, explained Rex, a chip that Five removed. He said that the chip was related to a conspiracy against the Jedi and the Republic".
“And you think that the Chancellor could be involved with this? “asked Fox.
“Wouldn’t put it past to him, muttered Fordo there is a lot of thing that don’t add up with the old geezer, and this war in general.”
“yeah, tell me about it, said Rex, our global strategy makes no sense. I can’t say anything because Skywalker is Palpy buddy and defend him tooth and nail”.
“And let’s not forget about the cover ops, added grimly Fordo, Palpy plans for the ARC who ask too much question.”
“You mean the old man private assassin’s" said Fox.
“what?” asked Rex.
Ford, Fox and all the ARCs present looked at Rex.
“Ah yes, said Fordo, we don’t tell you anything in the regular army, they must let you thinking that the Republic is all good and that the sun shine out Palpy shebs”.
“The covert ops are clone assassins, explained Fox, they had killed several ARCs and RC deserter and those who had accomplished too much sensible mission for the Republic”.
“their kill count is actually of six Alpha ARCs and eleven Commando, added Fordo, From what I heard Zey popped at least three vein when learning about them. Sheevy hide so much thing that now there is betting pool for who will make Zey have a heart attack first, that old gangster of Skirata or Palpy, Alpha ARCs only so you can’t join, sorry".
“yeah, no worry there is a Guard only betting pool for when Skirata illegal activities are going to be discovered by the CSF”.
Rex jaw dropped to the floor, he didn’t know what the worst thing was, that they were clones assassins charged to take out special force clones who deserted or who knew too much. That they had been hidden. That Skirata was dealing in illicit activities in contradiction of his loyalty to the Republic, and that people were aware of this but didn’t act. Or that Fox knew about all this but never mentioned it to the other commanders. Or that clones were using this as a betting pool subject.
And he thought that Skywalker was stressing.
“This is too much information, he muttered, but some of it make sense. But Fox, how are you aware of this and why didn’t you say anything?”
“I’m the commander of the Coruscant guard, the most efficient law enforcing force that the Republic has ever seen in two century, nothing happens on Coruscant without me knowing, and secondly do you know how much sensitive information I know? And how much devastating those information would if released? it’s better to keep for future blackmail”.
“What he said, added Fordo, but let’s come back to the chancellor, shall we? I heard several rumour he is up to something not good, he hadn’t played all his card yet.”
“Yeah, said Fox, maybe this chip is part of one of his plan, you think we should investigate?”
“Should? asked Fordo, Fox ’ika we must, that bastard maybe the reason why this war is taking so long”.
At this time Fordo had no idea how much true his words were.
Fox takes a moment to consider their course of action, he was the best suited to lead the investigation due to his position, but his proximity to the chancellor also skyrocketed the risk of getting caught.
“This will be extremely dangerous, like nothing we have ever do, said Fox, the less people know about this the better.”
“Wait, wait, wait, said Rex, are actually you plotting to spy the Chancellor and possibly removing from office?”.
“lek” Fordo said, popping the K.
“You are Jareor !!, said Rex, and why shouldn’t I report you for high treason?”
“Well firstly we are sworn to the Republic, not the Chancellor, and you know that we are maybe your best shot to discover what Fives was talking about?” asked Fox.
“Said the one who killed Five !!”
“And why do you think I want to do this, said Fox, you want to beat me bloody? fine, get in line. But first I must make amends, tor for Fives. And let’s not forget our brothers, Vode An, remember?”
Rex grumbled a little
“Fox’ika is right, added Fordo, the commander of the Coruscant Guard, ten Alpha ARCs including one captain? you can’t do better in term of accreditation and shady connection. And if we’re right then we did our duty for the Republic”
Rex seemed to be at war with himself for a while before raising his hands for Fox and Fordo to shake.
“For Fives” the 501st captain said.
“For Fives” said Fox taking the hand.
“For the Republic” said Fordo shaking the hand.