Chapter Text
Fox took a deep breath, steadying himself before opening the door to the meeting room. He stepped forward, ignoring the wave of dizziness, and entered. The room fell silent. The meeting was composed solely of Clone Commanders. It was the first time they’d all been together since…Kamino. The Jedi had been insistent, and Palpatine had been unable to cancel it. Fox almost wished he had succeeded. Ever since Fox had murdered Rex’s vod’ika, his batch had hated him.
“Finally decided to show up?” Wolffe growled. Everyone was looking at Fox. He instinctively checked his chrono. He was ten minutes late. He was lucky his brothers had more restraint than the Senators.
“Sorry.” Fox said, taking care to pronounce the words correctly, despite the pain in his jaw. “I had a meeting that ran late.” Wolffe rolled his eyes, but didn’t take the chance to insult Fox further.
“Can we start the meeting now?” Thorn asked impatiently, not looking in Fox’s direction. Fox’s batch had reacted the most explosively, but it was the Coruscant Guard’s reaction that hurt the most. They should’ve known, should’ve guessed, but they didn’t know or care and they were all ignoring him. Not that he didn’t deserve it…he’d killed too many brothers for that, but why did this one push them over the edge?
“Yes.” Cody said smoothly, as if there hadn’t been any delay. “We’ve called this meeting to discuss several concerning issues that I’ve come across…” Fox tried not to zone out, he really did. But his head was fuzzy and his mind kept wandering.
“It’s like someone high-up is giving us all false information.” Cody hissed angrily, and Fox barely managed not to jump.
“Don’t say that.” He said instinctively. Everyone looked at him. Cody frowned.
“Did you have something to add?” He asked coolly. Fox swallowed hard, wincing internally at the ache in his jaw.
“Don’t speak treason here.” He breathed, not letting the words slur.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Cody.” Thorn laughed. “There is no Senator committing treason. Discuss conspiracy theories on your ship, but don’t waste our time with them.” Cody studied Thorn. Fox could practically see him thinking. Wolffe scoffed.
“Waste your time, Corrie? I’m sorry, do you have paperwork to do? Or are we interrupting your naptime?”
“Oh, no, we just need to sign off on your requisition forms.” Thorn said innocently. “Unless you don’t want rations, armor, or medical supplies?”
“Enough.” Cody said. “Wolffe, knock it off.” The meeting droned on, with only minor spats between the Guards and the frontline troops. Cody dismissed them eventually. Wolffe stalked past Fox on the way out, elbowing him sharply in the side. Fox gasped as his broken ribs grated on each other. He barely managed to stay upright as pain blurred his vision.
“…you all right?” Cody was saying, standing directly in front of Fox.
“I’m fine.” Fox said, words coming out too sharply as he tried to catch his breath. Cody drew back, face settling into neutral.
“No need for that, Commander.” Rex said sharply. “He was just showing you some kindness you don’t deserve.” Fox inhaled sharply.
“I apologize if I offended anyone.” He said, the words making his mouth ache even more. He turned sharply and walked out, heading back to his office. Unfriendly gazes followed him, and some muttered insults, but Fox ignored them. He shut his office door behind him and ripped off his helmet. The cold air felt good on his face. He held his side and stiffly sat in his chair, waiting a few moments for the dizziness to fade.
“What happened to your face?” The voice made Fox startle, and he scrambled to his feet, snapping to attention even before he recognized who was at the door. Ponds, Wolffe, and Cody were there, with Thorn hovering uncertainly behind them.
“Nothing.” Fox said stiffly. “Go away.”
“Probably one of the 501st.” Wolffe scoffed. “Good for them.” Cody frowned, and Fox bristled.
“I’m sure you’re happy now.” He snarled. “Now leave me alone.” He didn’t want to talk any more. His face burned, and every time he opened or closed his mouth, new waves of pain came.
“So bossy, Fox’ika.” Cody noted, raising an eyebrow.
“Why are you here?” Fox asked, instead of screaming like he wanted to. They exchanged glances.
“We’ve disowned you.” Wolffe said bluntly.
“Not exactly.” Cody interrupted. “I don’t—”
“I understand. Now leave.” Fox snarled, their words hurting more than anything a Senator had ever done. And they had done a lot.
“Fox—”
“I don’t care.” He growled. They didn’t want him, well, he didn’t want them either. If only that were true.
“If he doesn’t want to talk to us, we’ll leave, Cody. I don’t want to listen to him anymore.” Wolffe huffed.
“Fox, we are just very disappointed—” Ponds started. Fox took a step forward.
“Get. Out. Now.”
Cody nodded, pushing the other two in front of him as he left. Fox stood for a moment before jamming his helmet on and getting to work.
Fox’s nightly meeting with the Chancellor came too soon. He’d managed to finish the paperwork he needed to, but he hadn’t had time to eat—not that he could, with how much his jaw hurt—or check in with his men. He didn’t dare be late, so he ignored the ration bar on his desk and headed for Palpatine’s quarters.
He was nearly there when he ran into a 501st trooper. His HUD identified him as CT-5597, ‘Jesse’. Fox distantly remembered him as a close friend of ARC-5555. They’d been thrown in the Guard’s detainment center together several times. The trooper swayed as he stepped in front of Fox.
“Murderer.” Jesse slurred. “You’re a cold-blooded murderer. I’m glad they disowned you, demagolka!” Fox stepped around him. Jesse lunged, catching Fox’s arm and jerking him around.
“You don’t deserve this.” Jesse growled. “You’re dar’vod. You should’ve died, not him!” Fox tugged his arm from Jesse’s grasp. The trooper was grieving and angry. He had a right to be. And it was Fox’s fault. Fox had done that. And Palpatine…Fox paused in front of Palpatine’s door. He might be able to help push Cody in the right direction. Cody would go to his Jedi and they’d find out that Palpatine was a Sith. Fox just needed to help…
Fox sent a message to his batchmates—no, no, former batchmates—asking them to watch what he’d broadcast. Then he turned his com on; audio and visual, and stepped into Palpatine’s office.