Work Text:
Obi-Wan breathed hard, his saber cutting through the air in tight, practiced moves.
The report flashed in his mind again and he clenched his jaw, teeth grinding together.
Status report: CC-2224
5/29, 21:19 - AWOL
6/1, 00:00 - Deserted
It had been four days since Cody left him to go see Bail on Coruscant. The feeling in his gut the night that he had received the somewhat apologetic call from his friend had been steadily growing worse, and now…this.
They had finally been getting somewhere too.
The image of Cody, determined and resolute, brave and stubborn in a way Obi-Wan sometimes wished he wasn’t, came to mind. Their last interaction, highlighted by the florescent glare of the venator’s lights, had been a worrisome one, and he had taken a moment, as he so often does, to memorize the soft lines on his commander’s face.
Had he tried to lie to anyone else, he might have succeeded, but whether he knew it or not, Obi-Wan was intimately familiar with the man’s tells. He’d had a bad feeling about the secrecy surrounding this ‘mission’ from the start.
His commander had been so infuriatingly quiet about the whole affair, and though he’d never been a man of many words, his grin had been too sharp to be anything other than fearful. Obi-Wan wished, maybe for the first time in his life, that Cody allowed himself to be a bit of a coward from time to time.
The report had been forwarded to him by Bail with a short explanation of what had gone wrong. Bail had pulled Cody in order to reason with ARC Trooper Fives and bring him in peacefully. Fives reportedly trusted Rex and Cody the most, but his brief confrontation with Rex and Anakin had gone poorly.
Somehow, Fives had convinced Cody of his innocence, and Cody had turned on the Guard that accompanied him into the bowels of Coruscant in order to find the rogue trooper. Commander Fox, Cody’s own batchmate, had been with them and confirmed Bail’s story. He even had the blaster wound to prove it.
That was Obi-Wan’s first indication the story had been a lie. Cody would never shoot one of his brothers.
Perhaps it would be easier if he chose to believe the report, accept whoever his commander’s replacement would be, and move on. There was a war going on, after all.
But their last conversation rang in his ears, impossibly loud amidst the thick silence in Obi-Wan’s room.
He huffed, closing his eyes and concentrating on the flow of the Force, just as his master had taught him.
He hadn’t wanted Cody to go.
He’d fought with himself over the decision to let him leave, but even if he had tried to keep Cody where he could see him, chances are Bail would have come to collect him anyways. And Cody would never have forgiven him.
He was never unkind, nor was he disrespectful. Obi-Wan thinks he would have preferred it if he was. He was a perfect soldier, an assurance of everything the Kaminoans had told them they would find in their clones.
Obi-Wan hated it.
It reminded him far too much of Anakin’s early years, before he learned that he was allowed to grow and make mistakes, and no one would punish him for it. It took him weeks to coax Anakin out of his hiding spot in the creche bathrooms, and even longer to get him to understand that he was free to do and act as he liked.
Cody was different. He understood the base tenants of what Obi-Wan offered, but never asked for it. It was infuriating. It made the moments when Cody opened up to him so much sweeter. It also made moments like these, when Cody fell back on his training and curled into himself, that much more upsetting.
He regarded the day he first dragged a sweet, gentle smile from his commander as one of the best, never mind the broken nose and blood he had to clean off the mats after he’d forced Cody to go to the medical bay. That small spark he saw in the other man’s eyes, coupled with the first twinge of shyness that Obi-Wan had ever heard coming from Cody were enough to have him dive headfirst into their relationship.
The past year and a half had been a test of Obi-Wan’s patience, both with himself, and with the urge to call Shaak Ti and demand to let him to speak to the Kaminoans in charge of training all that affection out of his troopers. It broke his heart to see how often Cody twitched in an aborted move to reach for him or another of his men, though no one else seemed to notice.
He’d caught him once, when his commander wasn’t aware of his presence, quietly soothing one of the newer men after a particularly rough mission. He’d wrapped himself around the younger clone, drawing him fully into his chest, breathing deep, exaggerated breaths to calm him, gently running his hands through his hair. Obi-Wan had watched the scene for a few moments, before retreating from the space and simply sending Cody a message over comms. He made more of an effort to check in with the ‘shinies,’ as his commander called them, during the particularly brutal campaigns after that.
His commander wasn’t bright in the Force, not exactly. He was…warm. Soothing. A consistent, grounding presence Obi-Wan had somewhat come to rely on in the turbulence of their time together. The sunbursts he’d painted on his armor reflected that quality well, and there had been many a night during which they sat together, just working, and Obi-Wan had basked in that gentle light.
As much as Obi-Wan sought to help Cody, his commander had a way of being an unconscious anchor. Everything was so dark these days, amidst the fog of war. If it hadn’t been for Cody, Obi-Wan may have gone insane.
He’d been entirely unaware of their bond until the day his commander had nearly died at Maul’s hands. Watching Cody wield the lightsaber, unconsciously copying the movements he’d seen Obi-Wan use, made something click. His stupid, brave, idiotic commander had smiled at him as Maul held him, Obi-Wan’s saber at his back, projecting his plan to bring the place down on his own head, and Obi-Wan had nearly fallen to his knees in desperation.
He’d been so angry that Cody would risk his life like that, that he would so carelessly throw himself away. It wasn’t until later, in the quiet of their empty room on that little ship, that he’d let himself fall apart, just a little. Talking with Cody, realizing what his words and actions had projected to the other man…it had been a fight with himself not to beg Cody’s forgiveness.
After they talked, when they ate together and got through the nasty emotional bits of the conversation, he’d felt content. Happy, almost. Perhaps it was selfish of him not to tell Cody, but he was so afraid his commander would pull away again. He had nearly lost Cody once that week, and he wanted to keep him close for as long as possible afterwards.
And then Mandalore happened.
He’d cried himself to sleep the night Satine died. She was close enough to reach, close enough to hold. And even then, he hadn’t been strong enough to save her. He’d been all alone on that ship and reached for Cody through their bond to keep himself sane. Just the knowledge that he was safe, glowing just slightly as he often did in the presence of his brothers, was enough to soothe Obi-Wan.
If he let Cody go, if he let him slip out of reach just as Satine had, he would never forgive himself. He would never keep his commander away from the galaxy, not in the way his master’s teachings warned him of, but he would keep him safe. If at all possible.
He realized, distantly, that he was crying.
He pursed his lips, feeling tracks of salt drip down his nose, forcing himself through the familiar dance of Soresu, though the absence of a sparring partner left him feeling off kilter. Still, the blue glow swept across the room in waves, a hypnotizing motion that calmed him slightly.
Something more must have happened.
Something more did happen.
He felt it, after Cody landed on Coruscant. A sickening lurch in his gut, the ghost of hands scrubbing at his hair, the exact same motion Cody made when he was stressed or in his very rare moments of fear. A phantom tear had slid down his face, and Obi-Wan had reached up to wipe it away before his brain caught up with him.
He’d received the first status report not long after that.
He breathed, ending his impromptu training session. He swept up his saber up in a final flourish, ending in the same place he began. A metaphor for life, Qui-Gon had called it. A person always begins at the end and ends at the beginning.
How bitterly true that had turned out to be.
He slowly stood, sheathing his saber and heading to the showers. He paused just inside, another wave of emotion that was not his own hitting him. Cody was angry. Not in the way his frustration thrummed lowly in his chest, nor how he carried his tension in his shoulders, but truly angry. Obi-Wan resisted the urge to push back, to send a wave of calm his way. Cody was so very rarely angry.
He was quick about scrubbing himself down, before donning his robes again and heading down to the bridge of their flagship.
He nodded to his admirals as he passed, the halls strangely empty at this time of night. The report had taken the 212th by surprise, and quite a number of troopers were not taking their commander’s disappearance well. He supposed he may as well count himself among them.
He found Lieutenant Waxer standing resolutely on the walkway, speaking quietly to one of the officers working the early shift. He shifted, then caught sight of Obi-Wan, nodding at him as he approached.
“General,” he offered as a greeting, too tired for true formalities.
“Lieutenant,” Obi-Wan gave him a small smile, “Just the man I was looking for.”
Waxer narrowed his eyes just slightly, but relaxed his stance, “What can I help you with, sir?”
“I need to make it to Coruscant, hopefully within the next few days.” Obi-Wan offered, turning to head towards one of the meeting rooms and gesturing for Waxer to follow.
“Is this about the commander?” Waxer asked, a note of hope carefully hidden in his voice.
Obi-Wan waited until the door closed behind them to sigh and turn to face the other man, “Yes. I believe there is more going on than we have been made aware of.”
Waxer nodded slowly, taking a moment to think. Obi-Wan liked all of his men, but he’d always liked Waxer and Boil specifically. They were smart, competent, and all the other things the troopers always seemed to be, but they had a certain carefree air that was refreshing to find amidst the endless struggles of war. It didn’t cancel out their practicality, but it certainly made them much easier to be around when the noise of the other trooper’s unshielded thoughts began to push through his own defenses.
“Commander Cody wouldn’t desert us,” Waxer started slowly, “He’s too protective for that.”
Obi-Wan laughed softly, “Yes, he does seem to have a soft spot when it comes to all of you.”
Waxer smiled as though he was reminiscing on a memory Obi-Wan wasn’t privy to, “He certainly does.”
Obi-Wan folded his hands into his robes, carefully considering the situation ahead of them.
“If I may, sir?”
“Of course.”
Waxer took a breath, parsing through what he wanted to say, “Cody cares…a lot. More then he really lets on. Captain Rex told me one night when he was – actually you don’t need to know that part, but the point is, Cody doesn’t do anything without reason. Usually that reason is either an order or a move to protect someone.”
Obi-Wan frowned just slightly, stroking his beard, “Then maybe their story wasn’t all fiction.”
Waxer nodded in agreement, “It doesn’t sound out of character.”
Obi-Wan thought for a moment. It was true, since he had really gotten to know his commander he found, to his surprise and delight, that Cody cared deeply for those around him. If ARC Trooper Fives was telling the truth, Cody would listen, as he always did.
Then again, Trooper Fives was accusing the Chancellor of treason.
Obi-Wan shook his head, and for the millionth time it seemed, was completely unsure where to turn or what to do. Speaking with Bail would either lead to the truth or a vehement denial, and he wasn’t sure which one of those he dreaded more. He was not personally acquainted with Cody’s brother, Commander Fox, and without that basis of trust, he would likely end up putting the Guard on high alert despite whatever effort he made. Bringing in another Jedi would make this a real issue, and he may be asked to take down his commander, something he never wanted to do.
Normally, he would go to Cody with this sort of dilemma. He hated that when he turned his head to share a look or mumble a joke, the man he’d come to depend on to be an unmoving anchor was gone.
If Qui-Gon were here, his master would lecture him about the dangers of attachment. A side effect of raising Anakin was that over recent years, he’d begun to care less and less about such trivialities in the looming specter of death that seemed to follow them wherever they went.
Another wash of anger, tinged with hopelessness overcame him, making his mind up for him.
He squared his shoulders, looking back at his lieutenant, “I’ll speak with Senator Organa, as he is the one that requested the commander’s presence. If you or another of the officers would like to accompany me, perhaps you could speak with Commander Fox?” He phrased it as a question, having learned a long time ago that if he did not, his men would not see it for the choice he was offering.
Waxer nodded, his expression grateful for a moment before it smoothed out again, leaving the mask of staunch lieutenant behind, “It sounds like the best we can do right now, General. I would be happy to accompany you to Coruscant.”
Obi-Wan smiled softly, placing a hand on Waxer’s shoulder, “I’ll make the preparations. We’ll head out tomorrow once all the paperwork has been sent.” He carefully avoided saying ‘approved.’ He knew it wasn’t likely to be, and honestly didn’t care.
He had lost enough to this war, he’d be damned if the trials of bureaucracy made him lose anymore.
---
“We’ve known each other a long time, all I ask is your honesty.”
“I am being honest, Obi-Wan. I cannot disclose any more information than what has already been distributed.”
Obi-Wan clenched his jaw in frustration, staring down Bail in his office. He, Waxer, and a trooper named Sparrow, who he had been informed was a sort of admirer of Cody’s ever since the Zeffo cave-in incident occurred, landed on Coruscant a few hours ago.
They split off after a quick bite at Dex’s, which had been very purposefully planned for both any information the besalisk could give them, and Sparrow’s first introduction to real food. Dex knew nothing, an infuriatingly rare occurrence that only served to further Obi-Wan’s worry.
His arrival in Bail’s office had been met with a senatorial smile, the kind Bail knew he hated, and the subtle press of a button he was sure the senator knew he’d caught. Still no verbal confirmation of his theories.
“Bail,” he started, trying a more diplomatic route, “I know my commander. He does not have a tendency to up and leave when people need him.”
Bail pressed his lips together before reaching into his desk. He pulled out two crystal tumblers and a bottle of a very nice Alderaanian whiskey and pushed them towards Obi-Wan.
“I asked him here under the advisement of Commander Fox. The Commander has been instrumental in senatorial safety, and I trusted his judgement in bringing in Commander Cody. He would have requested it himself, but he was unsure that it would be fulfilled as quickly due to his status on Coruscant.”
“You mean the fact that he’s a clone.” Obi-Wan snapped. If Cody had taught him anything, it was that most people did not nearly give these men the respect they deserved.
“Yes,” Bail paused, “And the Guard has its own issues regarding the Senate.”
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, remembering his conversation with Cody, “What kind of issues?”
Bail uncorked the bottle and began to pour, “Many members of the senate treat the clones as they are.” He handed one glass over to Obi-Wan, who accepted it tersely.
Obi-Wan took a moment to think through that answer, not liking the conclusion he was drawing. Clones were, technically, Senate property. Every Jedi knew that, as did every clone. It didn’t matter on the front because…blood is blood. No matter how the Senate classified sentience, every Jedi knew their men to be, well, men. When enough red stains the ground, you tend not to care if the man screaming in pain in front of you technically counts as a citizen or not.
Bail waited for him to respond patiently, swirling his drink elegantly.
“They don’t have a Jedi to protect them,” Obi-Wan said, “I tried, but the reaction to my suggestion was not positive.”
Bail hummed, as though they were discussing trade routes and not the brutalities of war, “A Jedi would just be one more person holding power over their heads. I can imagine, on a planet surrounded by people who already have too much sway over them, that would not be the ideal solution.”
“What does that have to do with my commander?” Obi-Wan pressed.
“Say you saw something like that happening to the Jedi,” Bail proposed, thoughtful in his word choice, “Your family, treated like property, for years. Now imagine those years were highlighted by war, and no matter how loudly you protested, no one stopped to listen. Over and over, people pass you on the street and over and over, you remain unheard.”
Obi-Wan nodded, having agonized over this himself many times. He was aware of the impact that power imbalance had on his relationship with his men, and he hated it.
“Now imagine one of your family snaps, tries to hurt the people hurting you. You then have two decisions, follow your family and see where it leads, if it will kill you or save you, or allow them to take your brother and lock him away. What would you choose?” Bail settled his arms on the table, gently clasping his hands together.
Obi-Wan shook his head stubbornly, “Those were not the only two options. And Trooper Fives was wrong, you and I both know there is a bill-”
“At best, that bill will be passed two years after this war has ended.” His friend interjected, looking wearier than Obi-Wan had seen him in a while, “Senator Burtoni is pushing another bill. She wants five million more units.”
Obi-Wan slumped in his chair, staring down at the bottom of his egregiously fancy glass. Five million more. That would push over ten million clones by the time they got done making and training them. Ten million men sent to die. No wonder Fives had snapped.
“Cody would find another way.”
Bail sighed. “I do not know him as well as you, my friend, but even I know that his options were severely limited.”
“There must have been something else.” Obi-Wan was being stubborn and he knew it, but there had to be more to this.
“I’m not saying I blame him. I’m just saying that perhaps he did what he thought was right, even though you and I know otherwise.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Obi-Wan spat out, his patience pushed to its limit. “You were the last person to contact me about him before he went AWOL, now tell me exactly what happened.”
There. Surprise, fear, concern, and delight. Obi-Wan clung on to that delight the best he could.
“I’ve told you what I can, Obi-Wan.” Bail placated, sensing his irritation, “I don’t know how Fives got him to do it, but he did. For the time being, we must consider the possibility that Commander Cody is no longer allied to the Republic.”
“That’s bullshit, Bail.” He hissed, well and truly upset, “I’ve never known anyone as loyal as him, he would never just up and leave.”
Maybe he was being a bit too demanding. But it had been a long week, fraught with stress and worry, and in his worst moments, doubt. He couldn’t believe that Cody would leave him, not after all they’d been through. Everything they had promised.
“The alternative is that ARC trooper Fives killed him, and his squad has assured me of the amicable relationship between those two men. ARC trooper Jesse was especially vocal in his opinion, and very adamant that we not treat him as hostile until we know the whole picture.”
More concern, a warmth somewhere to his left, another presence on his right. Cody was listening.
“Why did you send Cody after Fives in the first place? The 501st are all on the planet and the Coruscant guard is more than effective when handling these things.” The more he asked, the less it made sense. His frustration began to reach a peak. He could feel Cody, he knew what he was being fed was a lie.
“As I said, it was mine and Commander Fox’s opinion that we call in someone Trooper Fives wouldn’t be immediately suspicious of. We believed the Commander to be a suitable option.”
“Well he wasn’t. And now they’re saying he’s a traitor.” He forced himself to relax his grip on his glass, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath in order to release his emotions. It wouldn’t do for him to have to pick glass out of his hand on top of everything else.
“I wasn’t there, Obi-Wan. I don’t know what happened.”
“Yes, it seems that no matter who I try to reach no one does.” He snapped, “I want my commander found, Bail. Seeing as how you recalled him, maybe you could do me the pleasure of putting the motion through and creating a team for the mission.”
“I will do my best, Obi-Wan.” Bail was looking at him with a mixture of pity and concern and he hated it, “But I can make no promises. ARC Trooper Fives is our top priority, but even then the Chancellor seems more determined to put this episode behind him then pursue a single rogue clone.” Bail had pulled out his senator voice, which meant this conversation was over.
Obi-Wan steeled himself, standing and drawing himself up to his full height as he did his best impression of Anakin’s loom over the other man. He was tired of lies, tired of clawing his way towards a man who was eternally just out of reach.
Cody could explain it all himself when he saw him again for all Obi-Wan cared, he just wanted him back.
“Find him, Bail. Or I will.”
He didn’t regret his words, not even as his commander’s fear clogged his throat and his anger sat heavy on his mind.