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Cody hummed, examining herself in the mirror. The dress was a vibrant orange. A plunging neckline, a high slit up the leg, but with enough shape and drape to draw eyes instead of eyebrows. She moved from side to side, seeing how the fabric moved. She bent forward and back. Yes she’d be able to run if need be. She did a quick spin kick.
“Oh! I’m sorry, dear. I thought you said you were ready—”
Cody slowly brought her foot down, which was inches away from Obi-Wan Kenobi’s face.
Cody didn’t smile. She couldn’t smile. Smiling would give it away. She was a spy. She had perfect control of her face. Knew how to act seductively, angrily, happily. Knew how to make her marks read her in the way she wanted. She could twist any man around her pinky finger in ten words or less, usually less.
But a smile for Obi-Wan Kenobi would give her away.
“I am ready. Sorry, General,” Cody apologized. She stood straight, her military training never truly leaving her.
Kenobi grinned at the nickname. She ran a hand through her hockey-hair. “Not at all. It’s important for you to be able to move in that thing… will it work? The designer will be well known in Palpatine’s circle, but off the shoulder…” Kenobi paused, momentarily distracted as her eyes ran over Cody’s shoulders. “Well,” she pulled at her suspenders and grinned. “I can barely handle a spaghetti strap myself,” she finished smoothly.
Kenobi liked layers. Liked to be comfortable and covered. An undershirt, dress shirt, and a beat up brown leather jacket that had belonged to Qui-Gon Jinn before he died. She usually finished her ensemble with suspenders or a vest. Her shoulder length hair swept back with gel. Brown loafers, always sensible shoes. She might come off like an academic from the 30s, or Indian Jones, except there would always be an adorable dinosaur bow-tie, or socks, or lining. The woman loved dinosaurs, it didn’t take a spy to realise that.
Today the jacket was off. She was in a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up. A rare show of skin. Her suspenders were brown faux-leather and paired well with her blue bowtie that was covered in dinosaurs. The tattoo of the colourful feathered coelurosaur was displayed on her forearm.
Cody secretly wondered how the woman had ended up here in the GAR instead of an archaeologist looking for fossils, or some sort of zoologist. She was brilliant enough to do anything she set her mind to.
Kenobi didn’t match the other agents Cody was used to in black ops and then in the GAR, but the JEDI division was filled with oddball specialists the agency would be lost without.
Kenobi was the best of them.
Cody rolled her bare shoulders, taking a moment to consider Kenobi’s concern. She was used to putting on what was given and making it work. She was growing more and more used to Kenobi’s soft questions about logistics and personal comfort.
“I’ve enough tape to hold up a bridge,” Cody decided. “Shouldn’t be a problem, Ma’am.”
“After all this time, you’re still Ma’aming me?” Kenobi grumbled good naturedly. Cody could barely use the woman’s last name without sighing wantonly. Grabbing those strong clever hands and placing them on her hips. Her first name? Impossible.
“Sorry, sir,” Cody teased instead. Humour was easier. Something breesy between them that didn’t show Cody’s weakness for the adorable nerd with brontosaurus socks.
“That’s better,” Kenobi said in amusement. “Now if you are ready, dear, I do have some accessories to complete your look.”
“I do like your taste in jewellery, General,” Cody said, following Kenobi out of the changing area and into the JEDI’s play area. R and D didn’t try to be neat and meticulous like the rest of the GAR offices. Workstations covered in metal and ballistics behind clear bullet proof glass.
There was a sudden bang from a nearby explosion. Without thinking Cody fluidly pushed Kenobi to the wall, covering her with her body.
Kenobi crouched, her sea-on-a-sunny-day eyes wide and inches away from Cody. Both of them breathed in and out, time slowing down. Cody held her at the shoulders, pressing firmly against her.
Her mind caught up. She quickly moved off. Kenobi reached out as if to stop her, but then aborted.
“Anakin!” Kenobi sprang up, stomping toward where the explosion came from.
Anakin Skywalker shrugged apologetically. “Still working on it, boss.”
“You know not to test live fire rounds when the agents are down here!” Kenobi lectured, hands on her hips.
Anakin responded with an eye roll. “You said you wanted it done for the mission.”
“Done was half an hour ago,” Kenobi said crossly.
“It’s alright, no harm done,” Cody interrupted. The two could go on for ages if you let them get started. Anakin was a brilliant inventor, but didn’t think of much else when working on a project. Despite getting the most lectures from Kenobi, she was also Kenobi’s favourite, and often the one kitting Cody up for a job.
And no, Cody wasn’t jealous that they were close, or that she had overheard things about after work drinks and affectionate banter. Obi-Wan had said they were friend.
Just friends.
Cody could have any person she wanted if she had half a mind. She wasn’t vain, she just knew her strengths.
Alright so she was a bit jealous.
Kenobi gritted her teeth. “Is it done then?” She prompted.
“Working on it! Like I said!” Anakin waved her hand aggressively. “Ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes,” Kenobi muttered. “Ten minutes and it will be safe?”
“2224 will have no problems.” Anakin grinned at Cody. There were a few too many teeth.
Cody had a bad feeling all of the sudden, but before it could settle she was back to focusing on Kenobi who brought her into her office.
Cody mentally smiled seeing the familiar knickknacks. Toy dinosaurs, a black stone with red veins, blue gel pens, a lush basil plant.
Who grows basil in their office? Cody thought fondly.
“It’s the only place the wretched thing won’t die! I bought it for pizza night, it’s now the office air freshener.”
Among the usual clutter was a pair of size eight heels and several jewellery boxes.
“I was wondering why I wasn’t given any shoes,” Cody said inspecting the heels, but not reaching to touch them. She knew better than to grab at equipment before she was given a safety run-down.
“Yes, it wouldn’t do to leave your feet cold,” Kenobi said, picking up the shoes. She flipped them over and pressed and twisted the bottom of the stiletto and pulled. Inside was a vial of viscous pink liquid.
“This is a highly corrosive acid able to eat through steel in a matter of seconds.”
“One in each?” Cody asked. Kenobi handed her the shoe and she practiced the twist, getting a feel for how the vial would pop out.
“One in each, always good to have extra,” Kenobi agreed. “Here, shall I?” She bent down, holding the shoe out.
Cody lifted her foot and let her logistics specialist slide it on, like she was prince charming and Cody was Cinderella.
You’re too old for fairy tales. She rebuked herself.
She handed Kenobi the other shoe and it was slid on with just as much ceremony. Kenobi’s cheeks were a little pink when she straightened. She quickly turned and picked up one of the jewellery boxes, opening it for Cody’s inspection.
It was a beautiful sapphire bracelet. The dark blue contrasted beautifully with the orange of her dress.
“I didn’t get you anything, sir,” she said.
“It will be a gift just to see you wear it, darling.” Kenobi winked. She indicated one of the jewels and pressed down. “This will let you download the information, and in case the systems are outdated…” she pressed a different gem and a small micro usb popped out.
“You always have things covered,” Cody said approvingly. She let Kenobi put the bracelet around her wrist, and tried not to wish for the warm tapered fingers to linger there.
Kenobi took her time, adjusting it, making sure the size was right. She clicked her tongue and shook her head. She took the bracelet off and went over to her desk, pulling off one of the pieces and soldering it together. She must be a dream to have around the house. Cody knew how to hot-wire a car, but she could never be bothered to rewire her faulty bathroom light, telling herself she would get to it, shooing Rex away when he offered to fix it for her.
She definitely wouldn’t be shooing Obi-Wan—Kenobi away if she offered.
After the bracelet was properly cooled it was placed back on her wrist, there was no sign of tampering and it fit like a dream.
The next box contained a pair of matching earrings.
“Emergency comms, the usual,” Kenobi said, handing them to her. Cody nodded. She mentally grumbled when her curls caught on the second earring.
“Here, let me,” Kenobi said quickly, gently untangling her hair.
“Thanks, General.”
“My pleasure,” Kenobi ducked her head. She continued the rundown. “The necklace is a smoke bomb. One use only. You shake it and pull off the metal piece right here. You should have about twenty seconds of cover before it dissipates.”
Cody automatically turned and let Kenobi fasten the necklace around her neck. She felt a shiver run down her spine at the hot breath so close to her ear.
“I’m a little disappointed. Nothing sharp?” Cody asked, turning back to her handler.
“Anakin’s working on your clutch.”
“A bomb?”
“She’ll walk you through it. Hopefully you won’t need something that loud,” Kenobi nodded. “And as for something sharp, I think you’ll like this belt.”
Kenobi handed over her last piece of kit. A gold metal belt. Kenobi straightened it, pulled and pressed a hidden button. It stiffened and became a short sword. Cody laughed.
“Oh, I like this,” she said, admiring the blade.
Kenobi looked extremely pleased with herself. “I’m glad. When you told me you had experience with swords it was put right on the docket. Hard to make it subtle without losing all function, but we’ve managed it.
“You made it for me?” Cody asked. All the weapons and gadgets of R and D were meant to be interchangeable between agents.
“I… well of course,” Kenobi said. She pushed back her hair. A piece fell back into her face. “I… I want you to be equipped properly in the field, Cody. It could mean your life, and I—”
Cody reached out, pushing the errant hair back in place. “And you…?” Cody asked. She leaned in a little. She damned herself a million times over. She wasn’t some James Bond type, unable to control her lust around a handsome face, but her job was to read people. Kenobi had always been harder to untangle, but there were signals, weren’t there? She had to believe she wasn’t just another agent. A disposable number. Kenobi looked out for her. Cared about her, and she—
“It’s done, boss!” Anakin said cheerfully, bursting into the office without knocking.
They both pulled apart.
“I’ve told you to knock, Anakin!” Kenobi scolded, turning her attention to her insubordinate engineer.
“I know, I know, debriefs and calls from M,” Anakin said, having heard it all before. “It’s not like I’m going to tell anyone.”
“It’s a matter of security, Anakin!” Obi-Wan said.
“But you trust me, don’t you?”
“Of course, but that doesn’t mean—”
“Then there’s no problem,” Anakin cut her off. She held out the golden clutch. “Here 2224.”
Cody carefully took the clutch and looked at Kenobi.
“Anakin, safety!”
“If it was easy to set off it wouldn’t be much of a spy gadget, now would it?” Anakin rolled her eyes. “Alright, alright. Look. You see the lining here? Rip it and you’ll find a small timer. You can set from five seconds up to five minutes. It can easily take out a room about three times the size as this one.”
Cody nodded and noted where the timer was.
“Thank you, Anakin,” Kenobi sighed. She looked a little more relaxed. “I do appreciate the work you’ve been doing, you know that right?”
Anakin stiffened a little. “Yeah, I know. I—I know I’ve disappointed you. I haven’t been very appreciative of your guidance. I’ve been arrogant… and I apologise. I’ve just been so frustrated with the higher-ups.”
Kenobi completely melted with fondness. Cody pushed down her jealousy once again.
“Anakin, you’re the smartest person we have in the agency. It won’t be long until you’re running your own unit. You just need to have patience.”
Anakin ducked her head, embarrassed and a little pleased. She glanced to Cody, remembering she was still in the room. She quickly straightened.
“Well, uh, that’s all from me.”
“Thank you, Skywalker,” Cody nodded.
“Right,” Skywalker glanced at Kenobi again. There was a flash of regret. Cody knew Skywalker had been a nightmare over the past few months. Looked like she was getting it together. Maybe she was sorry for making Obi-Wan’s—Kenobi’s job harder.
She should be. Kenobi didn’t need the extra stress.
Skywalker departed and the briefing continued.
“I don’t need to tell you what it would mean if you succeed, Cody,” Kenobi said. Her usual flippancy was gone. She gazed at Cody seriously. “If you can retrieve the information we’ll have a full list of SITH agents. A very great threat can be neutralized if we move carefully.”
“I won’t let you down, General.”
Those sunny-day-ocean-eyes sparkled. “You never have before.”
Remain professional, Obi-Wan reminded herself again and again. Her gaze lingered on Cody. The field agent’s curly hair spilled down her back and all she desired in the moment was to run her hands through them. Instead she waited patiently as hair and makeup worked, twisting it artfully, holding it up with sapphire pins.
Usually, Obi-Wan wasn’t so easily taken in by a pretty face. She had been in this business for a long time, had played the role of pretty face herself in the beginning, she knew it was all masks.
Cody chose a coral lip and Ob-Wan found herself jealous of the lipstick as it skimmed around those full lips.
Unprofessional!
Obi-Wan looked away. The field agents were all exceptionally beautiful and charismatic, treating any of them like eye candy was not only exceptionally disrespectful, but also unwise. None of them were people to trifle with, especially not Cody.
But Obi-Wan didn’t let herself notice, not really, not since Satine. She had been on a brilliant streak, but Cody didn’t ruin it by being the most gorgeous woman she had ever met, but…
“So triceratops aren’t jurassic?” Cody asked.
“Not at all!” Obi-Wan said, pulled into the conversation. “They’re from the ceratopsid era. They didn’t even exist at the same time as the Tyrannosaurus.” Obi-Wan fell into a rambling explanation of the evolutionary science. She forced herself not to get pulled into a conversation about Jurassic Park. No one wanted that!
Except Cody who had a perfectly straight face, save for the tiniest curve of a smile. Not mocking, just a modicum of fondness that fueled Obi-Wan’s stupid words about dinosaurs of all things to an international spy who could have been a model or actress, but was instead serving her country to stop organizations like SITH, putting her life in danger daily.
Obi-Wan didn’t lose herself because Cody was beautiful, she lost herself because Cody was loyal and kind, and enjoyed listening to her special interests when Obi-Wan was stressed with the number of government secrets she had weighing on her shoulders, but being enamored with the core of Cody meant she also couldn’t help but notice every single wonderful detail about her. Like how her perfectly manicured nails were short so they wouldn’t get in the way of any delicate work, or how her brown eyes went amber in certain light.
You’re a fool Kenobi.
The hair and makeup done, Cody gave her a devastating smile. It was one she could pull out at will and yet Obi-Wan couldn’t help but think it was just for her.
“How do I look, General?”
“Dressed to kill.”
Cody ran her hand over her favourite car's hood. There were perks to being a spy.
“2224!”
Cody turned, Anakin jogged up to her, holding the keys.
“Why are you on vehicle pool, Skywalker?” Cody asked. It wasn’t uncommon for Skywalker to be down here. Her favourite job was modifying the cars, breaking their speed gauges, adding nasty surprises, but handing out keys was incredibly beneath a skilled mechanic like her.
Anakin tossed the keys and Cody caught them.
“Needed some space from the bullpen,” Anakin said. She was lying, Cody noted. She wouldn’t make a good spy.
“Right, well then…”
“Wait,” Anakin hesitated and then seemed to make a decision. “Here, it supposedly wasn’t done until a few minutes ago. Obi-Wan really wanted you to have it.”
Skywalker passed her over a golden ring. It resembled a wedding band. Not the usual kit she would receive.
Cody frowned. “What does it do?” This didn’t sound like Obi-Wan at all.
Anakin shrugged. “No clue, she just said she wanted to make sure you had it, that it would help keep you safe. That you would know what it was.”
Cody had no idea what it was, but felt her heart beat a little faster thinking Obi-Wan was thinking of her.
She took the ring. She knew JEDI’s methods, it couldn’t be dangerous, Obi-Wan would have brought it herself and explained in great detail how to prevent injury.
“Thanks,” Cody nodded. She got in her car.
“Of course… good luck, 2224.”
Cody gave a half salute and revved. She had a party to attend.
Just like that the offices were wiped out.
Obi-Wan stared at the burning wreckage of the GAR Coruscant offices. Sirens screamed in the distance as smoke choked the area, and she wasn’t sure she would be able to breathe.
JEDI was on a sub basement level that would be inaccessible to emergency services.
Everyone would be…
“It has to be her. She must be Vader.” Anakin’s words repeated over and over again in her mind. When Agent 2224 went dark, the assumption was … KIA.
That had hurt, more than it should. Obi-Wan knew her business. She had been working for spies a very long time. Qui-Gon was dead. Satine was dead. She should be used to it. She should know by now how to harden her heart and keep going, but Cody being dead froze her.
And then the other agents. KIA, disappearing. Koon, Secura, Mundi, someone had names. Obi-Wan was so sure Cody was the first victim, but Anakin’s theory—
“It would make sense. She goes dark and everyone starts dying. Her father was Jango Fett. He was one of SITH’s agents. They were killed by someone they knew. The methods match. You can’t be naive about this, Obi-Wan!!”
Had she ignored Anakin out of grief or attachment or selfishness? Had she let her people die, refusing to see Cody as the enemy?”
“We don’t have much time, Obi-Wan.”
Obi-Wan turned, and looked up. Bail.
Obi-Wan only took a moment to nod and fell into step. The GAR wasn’t one office after all. It wasn’t one group of brilliant people, and not everyone was stationed there. Bail was one of theirs and he could be trusted.
But what if her judgment was unsound?
“You two were the only ones we’ve found,” Bail said. They were in lush offices fit for a prince. Obi-Wan was sitting at a conference table with a glass of water in her hand that she didn’t remember being handed.
Yoda was across from her, his head bowed.
“Not even M?” Obi-Wan asked.
“Mr. Windu’s body is one of the confirmed dead. I’m sorry,” Bail said.
Obi-Wan shook her head in disbelief.
“I’m sorry, Obi-Wan, but we don’t have much time.” Bail said. “With the central offices destroyed SITH’s plot has moved forward. You’re the only trained agent we have left close enough to do anything.”
“I—” Obi-Wan wasn’t a field agent anymore. She had lost too many people in the field.
Well now she had lost everyone behind her desk.
“I need to ask, how did you escape?” Bail asked gently.
Obi-Wan dug into her pocket and slid the note over. “I thought—I think it’s from Co—from Agent 2224. She… she calls me General.”
The note was short. Just General and Coelurosaur. She had left immediately, bee-lining for the natural history museum, but no one was there to meet her. She waited for an hour, hoping for the familiar face, neutral but for the smallest playful curve of red lips.
It ate at her. Had she been spared for some reason? There weren’t many people with clearance enough to know how high up in the GAR Obi-Wan actually was, how many important missions she had been on, the devastating information she was privy to.
Cody hadn’t known that, but if she was a double-agent…
But then why not make a grab?
Obi-Wan tried not to think of a gentle touch, pushing her hair out of her face. Warm amber eyes hidden by a fan of dark eyelashes as they both leaned in closer.
Could a killer really hold such sentiment?
Of course, Obi-Wan knew killers. She had been a killer. She knew it wasn’t so black and white. If Satine had asked her to stay…
It didn’t feel right though. None of this did.
“We have a lead, but it’s growing cold. I need to know if you’re up for it,” Bail said, pulling her back to the present. How long had they been talking? Everything felt far away and automatic. Part of her mind working logistics as the rest of her fell into despair.
“Tell me what I need to do.”
“Count Dooku. We think he’s the snake’s head.”
You could see the smoke billowing over the city from here. Cody felt cold. Her long red dress was backless, and even taped and glued it felt like it would fall off.
“Sometimes, my dear, the best way to deal with a tricky knot is to cut it,” the old man behind her chuckled.
Cody gritted her teeth. Only Obi-Wan called her, dear and got away with it.
She kept a neutral countenance. Cool and controlled. She shrugged elegantly. “I’ve been known to snip a few threads,” she said. She didn’t show that she was screaming inside. She’s dead. They’re all dead. I let them die.
“I thought you were waiting,” she said casually. Like she didn’t care either way. “I hope you’re not thinking of backing out on our deal.”
Minister Palpatine laughed. “Of course not, 2224. There are loose threads yet to be snipped. Dooku must be taken care of. Exposed publicly as the bomber. You wouldn’t want to keep him waiting. You are dressed to kill.”
Cody offered a sarcastic smile at the bad joke, but her eyes hadn’t moved from the smoking pit that used to be the GAR.
“Sir, Vader is here, shall I—?” Palpatine’s secretary asked.
“In a few minutes. Miss Fett and I are just finishing up.”
“I don’t go by my father’s name, Mr. Palpatine.” Jango was everything Cody hated. She had never used his last name and would rather have a nameless grave that have the name Fett carved on it.
“Of course,” Palpatine apologised. “You made a career for yourself trying to prove you aren’t your father. What a surprise to everyone that you’re more similar than you let on. Your price was not that much higher than his.”
Cody felt sick.
But Vader was here. The man that had been picking off their agents one by one. The traitor.
The plan had been identification and elimination. The mission had come from Kenobi herself.
She twisted the gold ring feeling the smoothness of it until running over the small groove.
I failed you. She stared a little longer at the smoke.
Then she turned her back to it.
She looked at the Minister. The head of SITH. The murderer of her beloved.
She put her hand on her belt. The last gift Kenobi had given her. What did it matter if she killed a member of parliament? They could put her in prison. They could have her hanged. What did any of it matter?
No.
She pulled her hand away from her belt.
Dooku first. Then she would deal with Palpatine. There were too many guards. She needed a better plan. Even if she was willing to kill herself for revenge, she wasn’t stupid. She wouldn’t be able to reach Palpatine before the bullets stopped her cold.
So Dooku first. Kill him, get a little more trust from Palpatine and then end this.
She took a breath. God she was thinking of the dinosaur bowtie. How she’d never see the cheerful pattern again. How Obi-Wan would never tell her interesting facts about fossils. About feathers. About how Jurassic Park isn’t really depicting dinosaurs, but they’re spliced with frog DNA so she forgives its inaccuracies—
Don’t cry over a stupid bowtie. You’re a soldier.
She flinched. The door banged open.
“I know you said to wait, but I think Yoda got out and—”
Skywalker.
Cody stared in shock.
She never did knock. It had been such an irritation to Obi-Wan. All the times Skywalker walked in on a classified meeting.
Skywalker’s eyes widened. She made a grab for a holstered gun.
The Minister sighed heavily. “Vader, damn it girl, how many times have I told you to knock. It was going to be neat and tidy. Her and Dooku with one stone, now I’m going to need to replace my carpet.”
Vader.
Vader!
Vader finished pulling her weapon, all the security in the room took that as their cue and pulled, turning toward Cody as well.
“There’s no use hesitating now!” Palpatine growled. “Shoot her!”
Cody dove behind the desk as a rain of bullets sprayed at her. There was only one exit out of the office.
She looked at the balcony. Well… only one easy exit out of the office…
She pulled off her belt and launched herself forward over the side. She dug the sword into the wall to slow her fall and hoped her enemy’s surprise would give her time.
She ran from the scene, angrily pulling off the golden ring. Skywalker had given it to her just before her last mission. It was hollow, contained a message from Obi-Wan to play the double agent while eliminating the actual snakes that had wormed their way into the GAR.
Except they hadn’t been snakes. Cody had killed their people. She had been used and watched as everything else was taken from her.
She needed to stop Palpatine and there was only one person with the proof of his activities.
“It’s a shame that we never met before,” Count Dooku said, sipping his glass of champagne. “Qui-Gon spoke highly of you, Agent 212, but I think he would be disappointed.”
Obi-Wan was hanging by her wrists as Dooku circled her. They were in one of the backrooms of Geonosis Tower. Dooku’s event was in full swing. Soon he was going to announce to the world he was the leader of SITH and make his demands to the united nations.
“Disappointed in me?” Obi-Wan asked sarcastically. “I think he would be far more disappointed in his traitorous mentor.”
“Qui-Gon would have understood what I’m trying to do here. The government you have sworn to serve is corrupt. An Agent of SITH holds one of the highest seats of power and has systematically destroyed all who stand in his way.”
“And you helped him!” Obi-Wan hissed. Learning Palpatine wasn’t just working with SITH, but was the head of the organization felt like a blow. Cody’s last mission. It would make sense, going dark instead of fulfilling it and remaining a double agent. Her job had been done.
It all made sense logically, but Obi-Wan still couldn’t make herself believe it.
“I did,” Dooku said. He took another sip of his drink. “It’s funny, my friend. People like you, killers, spies, there’s a strange kind of optimism to you that makes you shortsighted. Just one death. Just one organisation. Just one catastrophe averted and balance is maintained and order is restored, but that’s not really how it works. It requires so much more than one death to make order from chaos.”
“War. You’re delusional,” Obi-Wan spat.
“Just as delusional as you,” Dooku snorted. “Did you really think you wouldn’t be noticed?”
It had been too many years to attempt anything in a dress, and that wasn’t who Obi-Wan wanted to be anymore. She came in a suit and tie and through the front door. She was wearing the same socks as this morning. The ones Cody had noticed once and laughed at in a rare show of mirth.
“Those are cute.”
“I’ve always been told I can make an entrance,” Obi-Wan quipped. She can’t think of Cody right now. “But I wasn’t trying to blend in, Dooku. Central GAR is gone. Everyone is afraid of SITH and the war you plan to start.. You’re the face of SITH right now. You’re Palpatine’s right hand that knows everything, has all his files, knows all his plans, has all his evidence.”
Dooku paused. “If you want to imply Palpatine will betray me I’ve already accounted for it.”
“I don’t think you have. You think the plan was always war. Was always meant to go off, but it wasn’t” Obi-Wan hissed. “You have made yourself into the perfect villain, Dooku. Do you know what the story you and Palpatine have set up is missing?”
The sound of gunfire and screaming interrupted Obi-Wan.
Dooku spun, looking towards the door.
“A hero,” Obi-Wan grimaced. She finally worked her wrists out of her bonds. Dooku moved to defend himself, but Obi-Wan didn’t strike.
“You’re the only one that can prove Minister Palpatine is a traitor! Work with me and I’ll get you out of here alive! Otherwise you’ll die a villain as fodder for Palpatine’s bid at leadership!”
The private security force had flooded the building. Obi-Wan clung on to the stolen gun. Defending Count Dooku who had sent so many good people to their graves, who had betrayed his country, who was in part responsible for Central GAR’s destruction.
But she was only one person. She couldn’t hold them off forever.
Then one of the black armoured soldiers walked forward. For a moment Obi-Wan was sure it was Cody, but realised quickly this person was too tall.
“Enough of this,” the familiar voice said. “We will not let your terrorist acts stand any longer, Dooku. Come quietly with your hands up.”
“I’ll be shot on sight,” Dooku muttered angrily, crouching beside Obi-Wan.
But Obi-Wan wasn’t listening to him.
She knew that voice.
Palpatine’s hero who would restore order and make a ground swell of support for Palpatine’s rise. The agent known only as Vader.
Obi-Wan stood up and stepped out, her gun still in her hand. All the weapons trained on her, but Anakin quickly ordered them down.
“It was you,” was all she could say.
Anakin pulled off her helmet. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Well, I am.”
Anakin looked pained. “I need you to leave. Now.”
“Ma’am!” one of the soldiers protested.
“Shut up,” Anakin ordered. “You’re an analyst, not a spy, and if Yoda put you up to this—”
“You sent the note.”
Anakin sighed running her hand through her blond curls. “All you’ve been doing for the last two months is gaze sadly in the distance thinking of 2224. It was all too easy, saving your life. Listen, Obi-Wan, you’re like a sister to me. You always looked out for me, but if you’re not with us then you’re the enemy.” She raised her weapon. “You need to pick a side right now, and remember that there’s not much of your side left. You aren’t stupid. Don’t be stupid now.”
Obi-Wan tightened her grip on her firearm. The odds were horrible and she felt so tired.
Her friend betrayed her.
But Cody didn’t. A little part of her whispered.
Which probably meant Cody was dead too.
“Just make it quick,” she said, dropping her weapon.
Something fell from the ceiling. Obi-Wan watched the ball of glittering blue fall. It shattered and smoke billowed, rapidly taking out visibility.
“I think you’ll be needing this,” Cody said, beside her. Alive. Holding out the gun she had just dropped. She was a mess. A tight red dress fit for Dooku’s gala ripped and torn, her forehead bleeding, a golden sword in her hand.
She was beautiful.
“Cody!” Obi-Wan choked. Alive. Alive. Alive.
“Obi-Wan,” Cody’s expression broke. She grabbed Obi-Wan by the head and pressed their foreheads together fiercely. “You’re alive.”
“Ten seconds,” Obi-Wan sniffed, very aware of how long the smoke bomb would last.
“Thank you, love. I only need five.” Cody pulled out the golden clutch.
Obi-Wan looked at it and couldn’t stop a hysteric giggle.
The spy laughed too and tossed the bomb. She grabbed Obi-Wan’s hand, pulling her to cover where Dooku was still hiding.
“Your taste, as always, is impeccable for the occasion,” Obi-Wan laughed wetly.
Epilogue
“Not such a pretty face anymore,” Cody said with a crooked smile. Her scars were healing well, but the amount of makeup she would have to cover them with from now on would be a pain. She pulled at her hair, styling it to the side. She wasn’t a vain person, but her looks had always been part of the job. It felt like unmaintained equipment. It bugged her.
Obi-Wan came up from behind her and put her chin on her shoulder, looking at Cody through the mirror as well. “There isn’t a face I like better.”
Cody chuckled. “You haven’t met my siblings yet. We’re all practically identical. I’m not as one-of-a-kind as I purported myself to be.”
Obi-Wan’s arms tightened around her, her cheek rubbing against Cody’s.
“Nonsense. You are the most unique woman I have ever met. You’re talented, loyal, brave, and I cannot imagine life without you. I tried it once. I hated it.”
Cody smiled. She didn’t hide her smiles from Obi-Wan anymore. She turned her head and kissed her firmly, her lipstick staining Obi-Wan’s fair skin. “I tried that too. I didn’t either.”
“Then perhaps from now on we stick together,” Obi-Wan suggested. “Bail certainly has enough of a mess to clean up. He could use our help. Palpatine is still out there political career ruined or not, and Anakin’s body was never found.”
“Wherever you are love, that’s where I’ll be,” Cody agreed. She turned, grabbed Obi-Wan by her suspenders and kissed her partner properly.
“I love you, dear one,” Obi-Wan whispered between kisses. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Obi-Wan.”