Notes: Any comments/reviews/suggestions/constructive criticism/unconstructive criticism appreciated.
Enjoy the story.
Cody woke up. He couldn't see anything and he had his hands tied behind his back. He moved to test the environment and by the engine sound he guessed he was in a trunk of some vehicle. He tried to kick his way out, but he was probably locked as the door didn't open.
Damn it, damn it, damn it… Cody thought. He tried again and again, but the door never weakened. Then he remembered about the comlink situation that actually got him there and reached to his wrist. But Slick wasn't stupid enough to leave a comlink on his wrist.
Then Cody realized another thing – he was wearing an unfamiliar uniform. Did that bastard take my uniform? "Slick, how could you!" Cody yelled. But there was no response. "Damn it, you kriffing treacherous bastard!" Cody fell silent then. It was pointless to yell and obviously kicking around didn't help much either. The commander tried to relax and regain his strength, which he was sure he would need later.
As he felt the vehicle slowing down, he froze. Soon it stopped and the engine was turned off. Cody held his breath and listened to any noises. He heard one set of footsteps coming to the trunk. Then the door opened and Cody could finally see something. That something was someone wearing his uniform.
Slick leaned over him and grabbed him. Cody fought him and tried to kick him, but Slick quickly threw him on the ground. Cody looked around and realised they were near the Separatist's headquarters.
"Why, Slick?" Cody hissed at him.
"I did it for my brothers."
Cody got up on his knees and looked at him in a genuine shock: "What?"
"After this Jedis will realise we are not just their slaves! We deserve more!" Slick spat.
"What are you talking about?" Cody yelled at him, ready to argue.
"I told you, you wouldn't understand!" Slick declared. "Get up." he ordered.
Cody slowly obeyed. Slick grabbed him again and pointed the blaster at him. "This way." Slick pulled Cody toward the nearest building.
The commander had no other option than to obey again.
"Slick, don't do this. It's crazy." Cody tried.
"Shut up." Slick replied and pushed him forward. Soon they walked to the building. Slick stopped Cody in the middle and pushed him down on his knees. Cody looked around and searched for possible escape route. Then he noticed someone walking towards them. Ventress.
She joined them and folded her arms. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked. Slick removed Cody's helmet.
"This is Commander Cody. I believe he could be useful to you." Slick introduced him.
"Yes, indeed." Ventress nodded. "You proved yourself even more efficient than I thought."
She called few droids. "Take him to a cell and send an interrogation droid to him. I want to know everything about Jedi's positions and their numbers."
"Roger, roger!" Droids yelled in unison. They yanked the commander to his feet and dragged him away.
"I guess it's time to give you your freedom." Ventress came to Slick. Cody broke free from droids grips and turned around. He knew something about the way Ventress spoke was completely wrong. He saw Slick smiling happily. Then he saw Ventress reaching for her lightsaber and everything happened so quickly Slick managed to only gasp and his lifeless body fell on the ground.
The droids caught Cody again and dragged the stunned commander to the cell, where they tied him to a movable table and left. But he wasn't left alone for long. Ventress accompanied by the interrogation droid entered the cell.
"I won't tell you anything." Cody said more to reassure himself than to Ventress.
"I don't need you to tell me." Ventress laughed shortly and slowly waved her hand in front of Cody's face.
Cody woke up. He was still tied to the table in the cell, but he was alone. What happened? Soon he heard shooting and loud noises outside. The door opened and captain Rex ran inside.
"Sir! Are you alright?" He asked.
"I believe so." Cody answered. "Where is Ventress?"
"The general is fighting with her now, we need to get out." Rex informed him while he was untying him. Cody jumped down off the table and took the blaster Rex offered him. They both ran away from the cell and through a few corridors. Suddenly Rex stopped and hid.
Cody followed him and kneeled next to him. "Something wrong, Rex?" Cody asked.
Captain handed him a datapad. "Sir, I need you to log in and send a message to our headquarters."
"About our status?" Cody asked, confused. "I have no idea what's our status, I was in that kriffing cell."
"Just call them, sir." Rex told him.
"Shouldn't we get out of here first, Rex?" Cody looked around searching for droids.
"No, you have to call them."
Cody looked down at the datapad and then back at his friend. "That can wait, we don't know how many droids are here, we need to get out." Cody said and got up.
"No!" Rex yelled, grabbed Cody and pushed him down. "Just log in." Rex threatened him.
"Rex, what's wrong?" Cody asked.
"Do as I say!" Captain ordered.
"No, stop it! We will go to the general now." Cody yelled at him back. He tried to get up again, but Rex pushed him down and sat on him. "Rex, what the hell are you doing?" Cody was angry.
Rex pointed his blaster at him. "Log in." He ordered again.
"No." Cody refused.
"Your choice." Rex said and shot him.
Cody gasped and jerked. Then he blinked few times to clear his vision. He was still in his cell and Ventress was just lowering her hand, disappointed.
"What did you do?" Cody was shocked.
Ventress turned to the droid flying next to her. "I will try once more. Then he is yours."
"What are you talking about?" Cody yelled at her.
"About this." Ventress smiled at him viciously.
Cody blinked few times, feeling sudden dizziness. Few moment later he could see clearly again.
"I have something for you." Ventress turned to face the door, which opened. Two droids walked inside, dragging someone between them. When they reached the light, Cody recognised that the figure was half conscious Rex.
"I am so sorry, sir." He whispered.
Droids threw him on the floor and left the cell. Rex tried to get up, but it was difficult with his hands tied behind his back. Ventress grabbed him by his collar and yanked him to his knees. Then she ignited her lightsaber and held it to captain's throat.
"Look who we captured. He and few clones tried to rescue you. They are dead. But it's up to you, if your precious captain will join them. Tell me about your positions, or he will suffer."
"Sir, don't…" Rex begged him.
Cody shook his head. "I am sorry, I can't tell you."
Ventress pushed Rex against the wall with the Force and let him fall down. Then she jumped to him and cut off his left foot with her lightsaber. Captain screamed and curled up.
"Stop it!" Cody yelled. Ventress ignored him and tore captain's breast plate off. Then she put her lightsaber close enough to his chest to burn him.
"Please, stop it! Let him go!" Cody yelled, feeling sick of his friend's screams.
"You can stop it, just tell me what I want to know." Ventress taunted him.
"No, I can't…" Cody trailed off. Ventress turned her attention back to the captain.
"Stop it!" Rex yelled at her.
"Not an option."
As the screams intensified, Cody started to weep. "I can't, please stop." He sobbed. He felt terrible, but he couldn't give their positions away for one soldier, no matter how good that soldier was.
Ventress growled furiously. That's not going to work… She raised her lightsaber and with one swift motion killed Rex.
"No!" Cody screamed desperately. Then she walked to him and hit him in his face hard. Cody closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, everything was different. The light was more intensive and there were no signs of Rex's body.
"What happened?" Cody asked confusedly.
Ventress ignored him. "Make him talk." She ordered to the interrogation droid and then left the cell.
What did she do? Was that just an illusion? Cody thought. What now? Is this real? He watched carefully the droid, who approached him and immediately started to send electrical shocks into Cody's body. Cody screamed.
Cody didn't know how long he spent in there. He guessed it could have been a day, but was probably wrong. The time passed very slowly as the interrogation droid didn't give him any break. Cody wished he would just pass out, but the droid prevented it and stopped every time Cody was at the verge of consciousness.
Once Cody was given some strange serum, which made him feel more awake. Cody hated that droid. When the interrogation started, Cody cursed him so loudly he was sure even Ventress heard him, wherever she was. Now he just silently moaned in pain.
Cody's head was lowered so he didn't notice when Ventress entered the cell again. The droid stopped and Cody heard talking, but couldn't tell apart the words. Then everything went black.
Unfortunately Ventress woke him up soon.
"Did you change your mind, clone?" She asked him.
"I won't tell you anything. I won't betray my brothers." Cody whispered.
"Well, we will see about that." Ventress smiled. "Continue." she commanded and left the cell again.
Cody cried desperately: "Please, stop it. I can't take it anymore. Stop hurting me…"
The droid ignored him and continued. Cody closed his eyes tightly and wished to die. But he still jerked violently when he heard a blaster shot. Cody opened his eyes and saw captain Rex with his blasters pointing to the droid which crackled and fell on the floor. Cody felt relieved that the droid was destroyed.
Rex ran to the commander. "Cody, I am so sorry!" He untied him and held him as Cody's legs refused to support him.
"Yeah, I've already heard that." Cody muttered.
"It's gonna be alright, sir." Rex assured him. "Let's go."
Cody allowed the captain to lift him up and help him with walking. But he didn't even try to hide the disappointment. Another illusion. How is this one going to end?
"How do you feel, sir?" Rex asked him.
"Does it matter?" Cody shrugged.
Rex looked hurt by his answer. "Of course it does." Rex sized him up and down. "Sir, do you recognize me, right?"
Cody chuckled darkly. "Yeah, I guess." He said ironically.
"I am captain Rex, you know that, right?"
"Yeah, and I am General Skywalker." There was the irony again. Rex looked confused, but didn't stop walking.
"Cody! Are you injured?" General Kenobi rushed to his side. Cody just watched him sceptically. "I have never felt better."
"Sir? Why are you like this?" Rex asked desperately. "We got you out, you are safe now."
Cody looked at his friend. "Just stop it. I won't tell you anything."
"I don't want you to tell me anything, I just want you to return safely."
"Leave me alone!" Cody yelled and pushed the captain away. Unfortunately the commander lost balance and ended up on the floor.
Kenobi kneeled to him. "Cody, what happened?"
"I won't tell you anything, go away." Cody clasped his knees and hid his face.
"Cody, we can't stay here for much longer. Can you get up? Rex will help you."
"Rex died." Cody looked up.
Rex froze. "Sir, I am right here." He looked confused.
"Well, maybe he didn't. I don't know." Cody said that while looking the captain in the eyes.
Rex and Obi-Wan shared a confused look.
"Tell me what happened, commander." Obi-Wan asked him.
Cody watched him, puzzled. Why is she asking? She is making these illusions, she already knows…
"You know."
Obi-Wan wondered what his commander was talking about. Ok, it seems he recognized us, but for some reason he doesn't trust us. Why? What did Ventress do to him? Is she strong in the Force enough to create illusions to haunt Cody with them?
"Ventress ran away, Cody. She is gone." Obi-Wan assured him.
Cody looked at him sadly. "I wish I could trust you."
"I think I know what happened. Did Ventress use the Force against you to create illusions? Is that why you think Rex died?" Obi-Wan asked uncertainly.
"Prove you're not one." Cody challenged them.
"Well, let's start with the fact that you remember all the illusions. You couldn't remember the previous during one, could you?"
Cody thought about it. "That's true." He admitted.
"Let's go back to the base, shall we?" Obi-Wan extended his hand and helped Cody get to his feet.
The whole way back passed in silence. Obi-Wan felt Cody was still doubting the reality, but he didn't want to push him to trust them. He was sure Cody would soon realize.
They immediately aimed for the infirmary to get Cody checked and his injuries treated. The medical droid recommended rest and sleep, but Cody hesitated. He believed he would wake up back the cell, so he closed his eyes just for a moment to get rid of Rex and general Kenobi and as soon as they left he got up and sneaked out of the infirmary. He walked through the base just to avoid sleeping. Finally he ended in the mess hall so he decided to get some food.
"Sir? What are you doing here?" Rex sat across the table with a plate with food.
"I just wanted to eat something. You know how bad the food can be in the infirmaries." Cody smiled at him, satisfied with keeping the true reason hidden.
"But you should rest." Rex disapproved.
"I know." Cody admitted.
Even though Cody tried to eat as slowly as possible to wait for Rex to leave, the captain didn't seem to mind waiting for him. When Cody finished his meal there was no other choice than let Rex accompany him. Instead of infirmary Cody went to his room, but Rex didn't object.
Cody stopped in front of the door. "Good night, captain."
Rex hesitated. "Don't you want me to help you with something, sir? Anything." It seemed he still felt bad about leaving the commander alone and giving Slick a perfect opportunity to attack him.
"Thank you, but I will be fine." Cody refused. Then the entered his room and headed to bathroom to take a shower. The warm water made him feel better, but he still didn't feel safe enough to go to sleep. Cody sat at the table and read reports about the last battle to be up to speed.
Since it was a night-time and he had a hard day, he soon found himself zoning out. Cody got up and paced through the room a few times. Then he decided to go for a walk around the base. He walked outside his room but stopped in surprise. Captain Rex was sitting next to his door leaning on the wall and sleeping. Cody smiled and walked to him.
"Rex?" he whispered.
The clone muttered something in his sleep, which made Cody laugh silently.
"Come on, Rex. Wake up." Cody said more loudly.
Captain slowly opened his eyes and blinked few times in confusion.
"Why didn't you just go to your room, Rex?" Cody asked him, still smiling.
"I am sorry, Cody, I just wanted to be at hand if you needed something." Rex admitted and got up. "Did you sleep at all?" Rex asked when he noticed Cody was still in his armour.
"A bit." Cody shrugged.
Rex looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Really?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"If you can't sleep, go to the infirmary, they will give you some pills for sleeping." Rex suggested.
"I just don't want to." Cody admitted.
"Because of bad dreams?" Rex asked carefully.
"No. I am afraid that you will all disappear if I close my eyes and I will wake up there." Cody whispered.
"I promise that won't happen. You heard the general, this is real; we won't disappear." Rex assured him. Then he got an idea. "Don't you want a company?" He asked.
"You should go to bed, Rex. I will manage." Cody said.
Rex noticed how tired the commander was and suspected that despite that he didn't plan to sleep. "You can go to my room," he suggested, "there is a free bed after some captain who was assigned elsewhere. So when you wake up tomorrow you will see I am still here."
Cody looked at him gratefully, but hesitated as it seemed inappropriate.
"Come on." Rex smiled at him.
Cody nodded and followed the captain.
"Did the general say something about a meeting tomorrow?" Cody asked.
"Yes, but I think he doesn't count you in. Officially you should be recovering in the infirmary for at least a day." Rex replied.
"I can go." Cody shrugged. "It's better than to stay in the bed."
"I agree." Rex laughed.
Both clones walked into the room and with no more wasting of the time took off their armour and went to sleep.
"Rex? I am sorry to bother you, but I can't find Cody anywhere, he is neither in the infirmary nor in his room!" Obi-Wan stormed into the captain's room.
Rex quickly sat on the bed, looking confused. "Sir?"
Then Obi-Wan noticed there was someone else in the room, lying in another bed. Obi-Wan raised his eyebrow amusedly.
"Sir?" Cody spoke in sleepy voice and turned to face the general.
"Well, the mystery is solved." Obi-Wan chuckled. "Anyway, I feel obliged to tell you there is a meeting in ten." Then he turned and left.
Both clones looked at each other in shock. Rex quickly glanced at the watch which confirmed what the general said. Both men immediately jumped out of their beds and put on the armour.
"Where is my helmet?" Rex yelled desperately.
"I got it, come on!" Cody picked up both helmets from the floor and ran to the door. Rex quickly followed.
When they reached the commander room, they stopped to calm their breathing and switched their shoulder plates because they accidentally put on plates which belonged to the other one.
They were both smiling mischievously as they entered the room, still having two minutes to the beginning of the meeting.
One glance was enough for Obi-Wan to tell that the old self-confident Cody was back.
Notes: Have a nice Star Wars Day. May the Force be with you.