Chapter Text
‘Some secrets cannot survive the light of day. They will combust as soon as exposed to even the one single ray of the ever shining light.’
“I am telling you, Rampart needs to take the fall for this one.” Cade spoke in hushed tones as he and Slip were chatting together huddled at the bar of the 79’s club.
“He is an imperial Admiral. There is nothing we can do to expose him.” Slip was worried for Cade always having been the more hotheaded of the two. Mostly though fearing Cade would do something stupid to put himself in harms way. Which seemed now more and more likely.
“What if I send him an ultimatum. A message stating he needs to tell the truth about what really happened on Kamino.” Cade sounded too hung up in this matter though even if Slip was trying to get this while thing off his mind. “You know, letting him do the right thing for once?”
Slip loved Cade to death. But sometimes the man was simply too delusional. Slip knowing well after having been part of the Empire for a while now how the imperial officers really operated. And Rampart was the worst of the lot. And going against him was the worst idea Cade had had in a while.
Even if most things had become somewhat clearer for them both lately. The haze of the mind, their very thought process which had been present ever since Order 66. The Jedi order as some of the vod’e called it. But ever since the attack on Kamino the two of them were becoming more and more aware of the goings on around them and not so blindly being able to follow orders any more.
As neither of them had served with a Jedi they had not been part of said operation. Still, ever since the loss of their home world Kamino there had been an underlying nagging feeling for both troopers it had been a wrong move for the Empire to make. And so each passing day the haze had become less and the clarity taking it’s place.
Still, Slip feared for their lives especially if they were to reveal what they knew to be the truth. As the Empire was always watching and listening.
“Cade.” Slip took Cade by his hand trying to calm him down and make him listen to what Slip was telling him. “Cade, you cannot do that. It is dangerous. Rampart is one of the worst of the lot. Trust me on this one. You’ve seen how he operates. No one is safe around him. Not one clone.”
Cade simply glared at Slip for a long spell his eyes darting on Slip’s as if trying to find some purchase there for himself. Because Cade felt it weighing heavily on him. The loss. The guilt. Knowing they had done the wrong thing even if under orders.
“But we have to do something.” Cade had calmed down just a tad. Slip always had the effect on him even now when he was the most agitated. “Rampart cannot get away with it. Not with the Bill coming up and all.”
“Yeah, there is that. And you know what it all means for us when it goes through.”
Slip had been doing his research after all. Having read everything he could get his hands on regarding the Imperial Defence Recruitment Bill. And Slip also knew this would mean the end of the line for the clones. The lot of them. And as much as Slip hated the fact the clones would be phased down, them no longer serving the purpose they were made for even if most of the vod’e they had spoken with wanted to continue doing the job they were bread and born for. It was inevitable they would not be able to do that for much longer.
“I know, Slip, I know. You explained it all to me quite throughly.” Cade chuckled ever so slightly, which was certainly a good sign. The man starting to finally come down from his hyper state. Something which Slip was thankful for knowing from past experience Cade would not do anything stupid when he was calm. Such as sending private threatening messages to Rampart.
“So, we are in an agreement then? For now? I mean no going off until we figure things out?”
Slip had some ideas on how to approach this ting having heard the rumours floating around. The several clones talking before they had gone AWOL. Something also of a cause or similar. A railroad of sorts helping all those vod’e escape the Empire. That there was a frequency which also Slip had tried to find out for a while now. Ever since him and Cade had started thinking they needed to do something more. Something about the Kamino incident as it was now called among the clones. Especially ever since the Bill had been put on the table.
Cade was thoughtful for a moment before he answered. “Yeah, Slip, we are.” Cade glanced around but none of the vod’e around them were paying any attention to two. Besides, the music was way too loud for anyone to be able to hear what the two of the had been discussing. “So, you said you had a lead?” Even if Slip had not elaborated of what it was simply to keep Cade safe in case he himself would get caught while tinkering into the secure communications arrays trying to get what he needed. Because it was like looking for a needle in an infinite size of a galactic haystack to find the right frequency. Luckily though, being a communications officer Slip had the security level required to get access to the imperial arrays.
“Yeah, I am working on it.” Slip too glanced around, something they both did between separate intervals just to be sure they were safe to talk. “And I am hoping to get to someone who can help us.”
“What if it means we’ll get into trouble?” Cade was asking the question a little too late as they were most likely already in trouble being the ones privy to what had happened on the Venators over Kamino.
“We already are in trouble Cade.” Slip told him as much. The very fact that they had the knowledge was already enough. But Slip also had an ace down his sleeve. The very proof of what had happened. “But if the rumours are true then we at least have an option.” Slip’s gaze was on Cade’s.
“You mean… leave.” Cade voice was a low barely audible whisper.
“It’s our only chance when and if we blow the whistle.” Slip wasn’t sugarcoating things. Because as much as he loved being a trooper. A soldier. Being in service. This was not the place he wanted to do it in anymore. And Cade? Well, Slip only hoped he would come around and follow Slip’s lead.
Cade was silent again. Which was always a good sign too. “Fine. We do it together. For the others sake.”
The two joined their hands. Holding on to the other. The pact having been made and now it was only a matter for Slip to figure out how to get to the mystery contact to get help for their revelation.