The whole universe is change and life itself is but what you deem it. –Marcus Aurelius

With a slight jolt that he was sure only he noticed, the shuttle landed. The others stood by the ramp, talking softly, waiting for Rex to come back by them. He stayed back a little, a knot of anxiety making itself tighter and tighter in his stomach. He had a right to be afraid, a very clear right to all involved. Not only was he going to see all the people he had betrayed, but he was also returning to the place of the betrayal. Yes, some people would sympathize, would have forgiven him by now, but there were others who were not so trusting. Who didn't know the whole story…who only saw what they wanted to see.

Rex entered, resting a hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes, "Don't worry, I'll shoot anyone who tries to do anything. Just try to relax."

"Easy for you to say," he let out a large amount of air, not realizing he had been holding it. Cody, formerly Commander Cody of the 212th and them Private CC-2224 of the 501st, was finally going home, but it wasn't going to be a celebration. He'd betrayed his best friend, had thought he had killed him. He'd spent the last eighteen months or so letting himself get used. He had been beaten, pumped full of drugs, and had every single right stripped from him…and he had done nothing. He had been three months away from termination, being only held together by cheap medical supplies and a need to survive and complete the order given. He'd been the main test subject of a new drug, turning the remaining clones into deadly war machines….and machines they had become. Side effects of the drug wiped out basic functions of the clones, getting many killed. Many were getting force fed after missions and some even had to have help with everyday chores. The only thing that had remained was their ability to fight. They became better soldiers but worse humans. It had been a high price for them, but minimal for the Empire. What was the loss of a few thousand soldiers and more were willing to step up? Nothing to them. Cody had been kept alive so long because he was one of the originals and was needed until a better version was created. Final testing was being started when he had finally gotten away, stealing Vader's private shuttle and just running, not really knowing where he was going. He'd spent six months on his own, just going through the motions of living. His training kicked in and he modified the ship and his armor, hiding his true identity….but he never felt the pain of half healed and now infected wounds. He did notice the prosthetic leg falling apart, he didn't notice how useless his hands had become. He'd adapted to it, subconsciously.

His saviors had almost become his killers. Seeing them alive…seeing them again after so long had snapped Cody out of his drugged stupor and everything had come crashing down. His mind finally acknowledged what his body had been trying to tell it. If help hadn't gotten to him in the time it had…..he'd be dead right now. He could be dead in a couple minutes, but at least he knew those who mattered were alive and still cared for him.

"Only those who need to know will be here," Barriss smiled up at him, trying to help. "Once everything is done, we'll be getting you better. I promise."

"But you may not get the chance to get me better," Cody looked over her head, into nothingness. "They may decide differently."

"Cody, don't do this," Barriss sighed, her smile fading. "Not again."

"Barriss, I have him," the one person he had been so sure of never seeing again because he had killed him came over, shooing the others away. "We'll see you inside."

"Are you sure?" Rex searched Cody's face before giving his shoulder a squeeze and moving after Barriss. Cody dropped his head down, finding panic starting rise in him as the ramp opened.

"Breath, Cody. It's not gonna come back," Obi-wan Kenobi's calm yet commanding voice filled his head, pushing the panic back down a little. "You ready?"

"Yeah," it came out as a whisper. He'd been trying to prepare for this, get himself steeled for it, thought he had, but now….

He grabbed his crutches and lurched up onto his one foot. His right pant leg was tied up to just above the knee, keeping the damage hidden for the most part. They slowly followed the others out onto the all too familiar landing pad, letting them move ahead to meet up with the group waiting just inside the hanger bay. Cody stopped at the end of the ramp, looking around. The sun was shining down into the pit, accenting every hole and cliff, bringing back memories…horrible memories.

"Commander….its time. Complete Order 66."

"Save us a few tinnies, sir."

"When have I ever let you down?"

"Well, there was Cato Nammodia."

"You dropped something, sir."

"Ah..yes. Let's not tell Anakin about this."

"Complete Order 66."

"Fire!"

He squeezed his eyes shut, blocking out the horrific images. He felt a hand fall on his shoulder, squeezing it, reminding him who he really was, what had really happened.

"Take your time, Cody, just take your time," Obi-wan remained calm beside him, between him and the others, providing a barrier for him, a shelter for the time being as he struggled with his inner demons. Slowly, ever so slowly, he opened his eyes, forcing himself to see the differences of this place compared to the last time he had been here. More paths covered the pit's sides, more landing pads. An ugly black gash cut into the middle of one such path, never having been repaired, reminding all who saw it the importance of why they were here….who they were fighting.

"They won't listen to me," Obi-wan seemed to have picked up on what he was thinking. "They said it helps the newer recruits remember what we're fighting, but it doesn't help some of us. It doesn't help me at all. Every time I try to tell the newer members about you, they keep telling me you're evil, purely evil. They seem to forget who they're talking to. I am the one who knew you best, who still knows you best. They remind me of shinnies some days."

He just nodded, looking away from the cruel reminder. Maybe someday he could look at it and not feel so sick. Maybe….but not right now. He shifted out from under the hand, moving to the end of the landing pad. He knew Obi-wan followed as he looked down into the water abyss below, "You know…..I nearly jumped that day."

"Really?" Obi-wan moved to his side, looking down as well.

"Yeah…I did," Cody didn't need to explain, Obi-wan understood why. Understood all too clearly.

"Why didn't you?"

"Because…I was just about to when one of my guys came over….he said they hadn't found your remains," he looked up at Obi-wan. "It was a little hope."

"Better than nothing," Obi-wan smiled a little, meeting his eyes. "Want to jump now?"

"A little," he looked over his shoulder at the people waiting. "I can't even see who they are, but I know they hate me."

"You had better not be going blind on me," Obi-wan turned completely to him, shaking a warning finger at him. "I don't need to have to deal with that again."

"But you did so well last time," Cody chuckled weakly, turning to face the hanger bay. "Well…."

"Yup," Obi-wan nodded, giving him a little nudge. "Away from the abyss and into the sanctuary."

"Some sanctuary," Cody grumbled, slowly moving forward. He knew Obi-wan wasn't going to leave his side, not for one minute, but he still felt like something bad was going to happen….something very bad indeed.