Chapter Text
Halfway through his sentence to Cody, Obi-Wan is interrupted, as a transmission appears without warning on the comm disc nearby. He pauses, turning to the distraction with an expression of confusion and mild frustration as he diverts his attention until he realizes…it’s himself.
The glowing iteration of Obi-Wan broadcasts live, the image rotating slowly as it speaks:
“This is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. I regret to say that Chancellor Palpatine is one of the Sith and a traitor to the Republic. He has been playing both sides of the war. He killed several Jedi Councilors before they could arrest him and attempted to take over the minds of the Clones via a control chip he had implanted in their heads.”
Cody shares a glance with his commander beside him, then slides his gaze back towards the several stunned clones slumped around the room. That certainly explained a lot.
“Well, sir?”
His question was open-ended; what was their next move? Years ago his question would’ve been closer to ‘Sir, what the hell is going on??’, but after all this time, he’d experienced enough chaos to learn to just keep on moving forward. At least, that’s what he would do. What he thought would be something entirely different. And right now, his thoughts were whirling like a sandstorm. A Sith, Jedi dead, with many more on the way if action wasn’t taken. Not to mention the chips……he’d heard rumors, but he’d always brushed them off as propaganda or just that—rumors.
Obi-Wan’s answer snaps Cody back to the moment. “The Temple,” he says thoughtfully, hand brushing his beard. “It has to be.”
“The Temple, sir? I’m…not quite sure I understand.”
The general pivots on his heel, striding towards the ships as he motions to Cody. “I’ll explain what I think is happening on the way. We have a Sith to catch.”
Cody nods sharply, though his reply of “Yes, sir!” is laced with a layer of confusion. He waves to the remaining men, directing them after the Jedi.
“You heard him! Load the others onto the ship, we’ll have them quarantined for now. Get a move on, boys!”
Once the soldiers are loaded onto the remaining gunships, Cody once again turns to Obi-Wan.
“Sir, we are headed back towards the cruiser for docking.”
“Good. Once we’ve returned, we’ll jump to hyperspace and rejoin the Vigilance.”
“Right, sir. But…” Cody pauses, trying to puzzle something out.
“What is it, Commander?”
“Well…how can we be sure the clones aboard the cruiser aren’t affected by the chip as well?”
Obi-Wan’s lips quirk up into a half-smile. “An excellent question, Cody. And one whose answer I believe was given to us by the Temple itself.”
“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned the Jedi Temple.”
“Yes, let me explain. If my hunch is correct, that transmission of me was fabricated by the Temple. Which means the information we’ve been given is true. And it also means that things have gone terribly wrong…”
“And what about the chips?”
“Notice the wording in the transmission. ‘Attempted’ to control the clones. You all have the chips, but it seems there has been a disruption in whatever signal the chip was supposed to transmit. Given how far out in the Galaxy we are currently, it’s no surprise that we got a mixed result.”
As he speaks, the gunship begins its approach to the cruiser, hailing for landing.
“…I see. But…how could the Jedi Temple send out a message like that? Of you?”
Obi-Wan’s expression turns more rigid, though still thoughtful. “That will take a great deal more explanation. First, I’d like to see how we’ll be received in the hangar. Until we know exactly how these chip signals operate, there’s no way of telling how this will go down…”
Cody falls silent, strategizing. Kenobi was right. Having seen how hostile the affected, now-unconscious clones had been towards the general, as well as knowing the fact that a Sith was behind all of this, it seemed safe to assume that the Jedi were the primary target of the assault. And if there were any clones aboard the cruiser who were controlled by the chip…things would go south quickly. Cody suppressed a shiver at the thought of betraying his general. Like a puppet on a string.
The mental image of a puppeteer didn’t leave when the gunships docked, either. The tension Cody and Obi-Wan were holding in felt almost like another person as the shuttle doors opened to the hangar. In less than a second, they’d find out what their plan of action was. Just like old times, he thought to himself.
~~~
Meanwhile, in the depths of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant…
Nothing but an unsettling quiet could be heard besides Anakin’s own furious cries. He couldn’t even satisfy his desire to slash the Temple walls, let alone his desire to destroy the Jedi Order—for some reason his lightsaber had stopped working. Endless mazes of halls and empty rooms confused him and only enraged him more. He’d been sure of where he was, but now the Temple was playing tricks on him, it had to be. Not that he could even determine that, since he couldn’t sense it through the Force.
Now that he thought about it, Anakin couldn’t sense anything through the Force. He pauses, holding a hand out to summon his lightsaber to his palm. Nothing. Nothing? No. He must’ve been cut off from the Force, then…no wonder it felt so quiet.
Well, if whoever was restricting his power thought they had him pinned, they were wrong. And they were going to be the first to suffer for it. Anakin places a hand along the left wall, running it alongside him as he continues forward. The Jedi wanted to hide behind a maze? Fine. He’d play their little game. It was only a matter of time.
After Maker knows how long, the aching lack of life in the Temple halls began to haunt Anakin. If only Rex was here, he thought. No. Rex betrayed me too, just like all the others. Anakin shakes his head, trying to rid himself of the memory of the commander’s expression. He couldn’t afford to be distracted in this labyrinth, but the thoughts continued to swirl incessantly.
~~~
Each holding bated breath, Commander Cody and Obi-Wan scan the hangar laid out before them, bracing for anything. Nothing came. The pair exchange a look of hesitant relief, though Cody’s expression is hidden beneath his helmet. After a final visual sweep, the clone commander gives a wave to his soldiers. Gathering their stunned brothers, the remaining clones of the 212th battalion follow Cody and Obi-Wan down the ramp, as if nothing had changed.
Standing off to the side with Cody as the battalion offloads, Obi-Wan scrutinizes the hangar crew about them. Slowly, he crossed an arm across his body, perching a hand on his chin—as he often did when deep in thought, Cody had come to notice. The number of off loaders dwindles as they filter into the halls of the ship beyond the hangar, and Cody pivots towards the Jedi Master beside him.
“Well, sir, we weren’t ambushed. Normally, I’d take that as a sign that all is well, but…” He tilts his head, leaving his sentence open. Obi-Wan blinks and turns his head towards the commander, coming back to reality.
“As would I. I don’t sense any ill-intent aboard the ship, however.” For a brief moment, the glint returns to Obi-Wan’s eyes. “Unless you plan to hit someone over the head once we regroup with the main forces.”
Cody lets a small chuckle escape as he removes his helmet. He was glad to see the general in better spirits after…well, after everything so far. “No, sir. Except the Chancellor, maybe.”
“Glad to hear it,” the Jedi replies with a small, somewhat grim smile. “It seems as though the chip disruptor signal did transmit here, which is a good sign. We’ll need to get to the bridge immediately to see if we can contact the Temple.” With that, Obi-Wan steps forward towards the doors.
“Right.” Cody nods, turning to follow the general. In the elevator to the bridge, a thought reoccurs to him at the mention of the Temple. “Sir, you said the Temple fabricated the transmission of you…”
“Yes, it did. The Jedi Temple has become so closely connected to the Force over the years that it practically has a mind of its own. Most don’t notice it, but it protects those who it loves; mainly the younglings, but—” Obi-Wan pivots his head towards Cody, “—it seems to have taken a liking to the clones as well.”
Before Cody can form a response beyond a puzzled expression, the elevator reaches the bridge and the doors slide open. Obi-Wan steps out, striding towards the holodeck in the center. Cody steps out behind him, forgetting his mild confusion.
“And the transmission was…?”
“It was the Temple sensing grave danger in the Force. I suspect it picked my image to spread the message of Palpatine’s treachery because I am a trusted figure throughout the galaxy. At least, that’s what I think is going on here.”
Obi-Wan leans over the glowing holograms. He looks up at Cody to find the commander’s eyebrow raised, a smirk betraying his amusement. He scowls good-naturedly, shaking his head.
“It was the Temple’s choice, not mine. I would’ve chosen Master Yoda, personally.”
Cody’s smirk widens. “Sure you would’ve,” he teases.
“I think your attitude would be better applied to finding our renegade Sith Lord, Commander Cody.”
“Yes, sir.”
“See if we can contact Rex and the 501st. We’ll need all the help we can get if we’re to hunt down the Chancellor.”
The Jedi’s earlier words may have been an indirect order to refocus, but Cody had seen that playful spark return again. Just like I thought, he smiled to himself. Though the clone knew he could never supply a de facto replacement for Obi-Wan’s banter with Anakin Skywalker, he didn’t need to. Cody knew he and Obi-Wan would both rest easier knowing the general would never be truly alone.
If Rex was in comms distance, it’d practically be a family reunion.
“This is Commander Cody of the starship Vigilance, to Commander Rex and the 501st Battalion. If you receive this transmission, respond immediately. I repeat: this is the starship Vigilance, to the 501st Battalion…”