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"Dogma? Dogma, where’d you go?" Tup calls to his twin, only to be met with silence. He already tried comming Dogma, but it started beeping in his locker. Wherever Dogma went, he’s without his comm and upper armour. "Jesse, Fives, did any of you see Dogma?" He asks the ARCs hopefully, but they shake their heads. "Sorry, Tup’ika. Last time I saw him, was two days ago. During our wonderful holonight." Jesse answers. Fives just shrugs. "Same with me. Maybe he’s got a new friend?" Fives suggests and Tup flinches. "No! No way, he’s…he’s never comfortable around anyone other than us." Tup says, tears in his eyes.
"Don’t worry Tup. He’ll be fine, probably. In the meantime, wanna play sabacc?" Jesse asks and Tup stomps his feet.
"No! I’m going to find Dogma. Maybe Captain will know where he is." Tup replies, and storms out. Jesse shrugs when the door closes behind Tup. "Why do you think he cares? I’m better without Dogma around." He says and Fives hums. "Don’t know, Jesse. He might drift away from us when he finds out."
*****
Tup’s running through the halls of the Resolute, desperately trying not to panic. Dogma seems to have just…disappeared. And now that Tup is thinking about it, he can’t remember if he saw his twin since Dogma stormed out of ARCs’ barracks two days ago.
He reaches Captain Rex’s office, and knocks on the door. "Enter." Comes a clipped reply. Tup peeks inside and enters cautiously.
"Tup. What can I do for you?" He asks, setting his datapad down on his desk.
"It’s…it’s about Dogma, Sir." He mutters, eyeing the floor. "Dogma? What about him? He’s not a troublemaker, so I don’t think it’s serious enough to…" Tup flings himself closer to Captain’s desk. "Ori’vod, I can’t find him anywhere! He’s not usually the type to disappear like that!" He says in raised voice, trembling. Rex sighs.
"I don’t know, Tup. Listen, I’ve got to call Cody, can you please wait?" Rex says, gesturing to a chair by the wall. Tup slumps on it, resigned. He won’t help either, probably.
Without really meaning to, Tup glances at the hologram Commander Cody that appeared on the desk. "Yeah, Rex? Make it quick." Cody says, looking annoyed. "Well, it’s about…" Rex starts, but Cody raises his hand. "Wait. Someone’s knocking." He says and louder adds: "Who’s that?" Whoever it is, must have answered, because Cody’s irritated frown smoothes.
"Dogma? Come in, and if Waxer and Boil are with you, they can come too."
"Dogma? Rex, please, let me see him!" Tup yells frantically, and Rex nods.
Tup takes a chair beside Rex and watches as his brother appears in the holocam’s view. There are two older clones with him, judging by their body language, guarding him.
Oh, Dogma, what happened? Tup thinks, noticing how tense his twin is. One of the older clones touches his shoulder, and Dogma leans on him. It feels wrong to Tup. Dogma’s never been clingy, always avoided physical contact. Rex frowns.
"Cody, it isn’t funny. Give him back. Tup’s been bothering me since this morning that he can’t find him, and now I find out that he’s with you?"
Rex yells, and Tup sees Dogma shudders. Tup frowns. He just came in, otherwise Rex wouldn’t know until the debrief tomorrow. Rex turns to the holo, face cold.
"Dogma, right now explain what are you doing with Cody’s battalion, and why are you listed as part of Ghost Company, while you belong to Torrent." He demands, and Tup sees Dogma flinching away from the projector.
"Umm…Captain, I…it’s just…" Dogma stammers, unable to gather his thoughts. Commander Cody comes to his aid. "Rex, he’s been found by Waxer and Boil in a dark storage room, alone and crying, aiming a kriffing blaster at his own head! All because of something that happened while he was with your battalion! I’ve reassigned him." Cody yells, furious. Rex gasps, shocked, and Tup let out a strangled cry. Dogma…I didn’t see anything. I thought he was alright… Tup sobs, and looks at Dogma. Tup squeezes himself closer to holoprojector.
He smiles with relief, seeing Dogma’s face from closer distance, and that it doesn’t show much distress. "Dogma! I was so worried! You just disappeared and this morning, I couldn’t find you anywhere! I’m so glad you’re safe! But…what did he say about the blaster! Dogma, what…what did you do?" Tup rambles, realising what almost happened, and his eyes widen in terror. Dogma looks away for a moment. "Tup, I…I’ve been away for over 50 hours. And you noticed just this morning?" he asks, clearly trying not to let the pain seep into his voice, but Tup’s been around him for years, so he notices. And his heart sinks. I really messed up, didn’t I?
"B-but why, Dogma? Why did you want to…?" Tup sobs, and he looks at the clones around him.
"Well, I’m curious too. What happened to this shiny?" Captain Rex asks, crossing his arms on his chest. One of the clones from 212th sighs. "According to our vod’ika, your ARC troopers happened. He told us they repeatedly tried to convince him he’s less than he is, that nobody wants and needs him and that he’s not even a brother." He says, clearly trying to keep his voice calm to not startle Dogma, whose anxieties seem to be spiking. Tup yelps, the ARCs? Fives and Jesse? But they were so nice, helping him! They weren’t mean to Dogma…right?
"Rex, you’re my brother, and I’ve known you since Kamino. You didn’t know anything, did you?" Commander Cody addresses the Captain, who shakes his head, looking grim. At least he’s not to blame… Tup thinks bitterly.
"No. I didn’t. Dogma never came to me, or anyone. I just assumed he’s a different type of vod, but still accepted by others." He mutters and Commander Cody scowls. "Yes, he’s accepted, here, in 212th. In Ghost Company, not in your Torrent. Summon your ARCs here, Captain. I’d like to hear their justification for their actions." He says, and looks at me warmly. But…I’m accepting him too… Tup feels hurt. Maybe he didn’t notice Dogma wasn’t there for a while, but he cares too.
Not long after, two clones, Torrent’s ARCs come into the room.
"Oh, hi Tup’ika. Been wondering where you went." Jesse says, attempting to fluff Tup’s hair, but he flinches away, Jesse’s actively ignoring the holoprojector. Fives’s eyes widen, and he nudges Jesse.
"Sir. Waxer, Boil, nice to see you two." He smirks, winking. But three clones’ expressions stay steely.
"ARC Trooper Fives and ARC Trooper Jesse. It has come to my attention that your actions nearly caused the death of one of our fellow vod’e." Commander Cody starts, eyes locked on them.
Fives flinches, and Jesse’s eyes flick to Dogma, like he just noticed his presence.
"Oh, him? Not my fault he’s boring, worthless darvod." Tup glares at Jesse. There’s never been a moment when he wanted to punch Jesse as much as now. No, punching isn’t enough. Tup wants to murder Jesse, kick his shebse off the ship.
"After the acts of courage and selflessness on the field of battle, I thought you’d be good ARCs. Leading by example, not just giving orders. But I see that I’ve been wrong. Sadly, I cannot strip you of your kamas, but from my side, you’ll be demoted from Lieutenants for at least six months. I hope you’ll see to it, Captain." Marshal Commander Cody says, addressing Rex in his final sentence.
"If you think there’s more you could do, feel free." He adds and Captain Rex nods. Tup scowls. Maybe a court-martial for nearly causing a death of a shiny? He thinks, but won’t say it out loud. He’s not that crazy. Rex’s next words startle him.
"Dogma, I’d like to ask you back. I’m sorry that I didn’t react, that you were alone. But we miss you. Tup misses you. After all you endured, I can see to you getting promoted to Sergeant." Captain Rex offers. Tup allows himself for a bit of hope, maybe if Dogma comes back, they’d be together again, even if outcast from Torrent, but before Captain even finishes, Dogma shakes his head.
Tup gasps, already knowing what’s about to happen. Dogma will deny. His twin takes a deep breath, before speaking.
"Captain, thank you for your kind offer. Captain Rex, Tup, I am not coming back. My vod’e are 212th. This is where I belong. With my ori’vod’e. Tup, you’ll have to manage your hair, your grief without me. You seem to be doing fine without me. Add me to Remembrances, if you want to." He says calmly, leaning closer on one of the clones, outstretching his hand to other.
Tup starts sobbing, loudly and mournfully. He doesn’t care how it looks or sounds, he just lost his last and closest brother. He knows Dogma’s still alive, he sees him, but…"add me to remembrances, if you want to…" He wants to be dead for him! Why can’t he see that Tup does, and always cared?
Tup looks up, seeing Dogma already curled on one of 212th clones’ lap, the other stroking his hair. And the worse part is, Tup sees the pride on their faces. They think it was right decision, to abandon him!
"You’ve heard Dogma. If any of you from Torrent ever gets close to him, Ghost will end you." Commander Cody threatens, nodding to Dogma and cuts off the call.
Tup is aware of Rex looking at him pitifully, of Fives regretful expression and Jesse’s smugness, despite being demoted. Tup takes a deep breath, and explodes.
"What the kriff?! You act like we’re brothers, keep talking about it, and then, you exclude and humiliate my twin!" Tup yells, and Jesse snorts. "You’re cute when you’re angry, Tup’ika, you know that?" He smiles, but Tup is having none of it. "Oh, don’t you dare call me 'Tup’ika' ever again! You’re not my ori’vod’e, nor after what you did! Dogma nearly kriffing killed himself because of you di’kutla shebse!" Tup shouts, and storms out of the room, fist curled tightly, whole body stiff.
Once he’s far away enough, he stops, and leans against the wall. Force, Dogma… He sobs, sliding down the wall. He curls up on himself, hiding his face in his hands and continues crying. Quiet footsteps startle him. Is that Rex, going to punish him for the outburst?
"Hey, Tup. What’s happening? Did you find Dogma?" A soft voice asks. Tup looks up with his teary eyes. Kix smiles softly, sitting by his side. "Udesii, Tup. It’s okay, I’ll listen to whatever is troubling you." He whispers gently. He’s a CMO, so Tup doesn’t suppose he was a part of it. He can trust Kix.
"D-Dogma…Dogma’s not…coming back…" Tup chokes out in-between sobs. Kix frowns. "What do you mean, 'not coming back'? Where’s he? What happened?" He asks and Tup flinches. "The ARCs…I don’t know what they did, but…he…he wanted to…" Tup breaks into tears, sinking into Kix’s chest, and the medic’s eyes widen.
"Did he…?" He asks, already fearing the answer. Tup shakes his head. "N-no, he’s with…212th, Captain started settling things, but…he’s not…he said he won’t return to me…" The rest of Tup’s words die down in sobbing. Kix’s eyes harden. "I’m going to kill them. I’m going to lock them in the medbay and drug them until they think they’re kriffing loth-cats, or apologise to both Dogma and you!" He yells, and Tup flinches slightly. Kix winces.
"Okay, Tup. Come with me, okay? We’ll talk this through, or just sit together. Just…don’t stay alone tonight, okay?" Kix asks and Tup nods, shakily standing up. "Thank you, Kix…" He mutters.