"Cody, cover me!" My general leapt forward, igniting his lightsaber as he went.
I followed behind him, waving my men onward. Towards the clankers and the screams of dying men.
We charge into battle behind the greatest general in the galaxy. I pity Captain Rex, whose Commander and General are equally impulsive, young, and reckless. Most of his missions could be classified as suicide missions, but they always come out on top.
General Kenobi, the negotiator. My general. The Jedi.
The clones and Jedi have worked together as long as I've been alive. I was a part of the first batch of officers, a group of men born to lead. Captain Rex had followed close behind and somehow, we had managed to get the closest generals in the republic.
Master and Padawan. A tandem team. Then the Padawan received a Padawan. A trio of fighters.
General Kenobi recommended me for a higher rank, Commander. I accepted it with grace, wondering why my friend with the Jaig eyes wasn't promoted.
I have the best General in the republic. I trust him and He trusts me. I would gladly die for him.
Kenobi laughs when I talk of death. Instead he talks of what happens after the war. He tells me stories. How he would take Rex, me, Anakin, and Ashoka to Dex's for a celebratory dinner after the war. We'll go to Mandalore and wander in the snow. He'll get the council to release me from the army with full honors.
"We'll find you a girl, a planet to settle down and raise a family. Your blasters will hang over the fireplace. You'll tell stories of your valor to your children and your children's children."
"But first, we have to survive." I said.
His bright eyes locked onto mine and he grinned. "Yes, we do." He stretched out a hand. "Survive with me?"
I had shook his hand, promising that I would. It had surprised me, my general's promise. But I suppose it was the same for Rex and his Commander. His General wouldn't promise him a life after the war, but I knew that Ashoka would.
She wears the Torrent company symbol, a diamond hanging around her neck. It's Rex's company.
I've never seen it, but I know that Rex wears something similar. A promise to protect each other in this messy war. To survive and show each other the sights afterwards. A promise to find family.
Rex's General has made a promise to someone too. He'd promised Ashoka and a certain Senator to survive for them. His daughter and his wife. Secrets that he couldn't keep from us.
So we fight, one battle after the next. Surriving.
I've never felt so relieved when my general returns after a dangerous mission with Anakin's men. I see the same feeling in his eyes when he checks up on our men.
I'm brought back to current battle with a bump. My General has the clankers on their knees, his lightsaber is sheathed. We've won this fight.
He turns, eyes searching the ranks, counting our dead. His eyes find mine and I grin.
I survived.
His eyes soften with relief. He turns back to his Padawan, Rex's General. I see Anakin counting his men, the same relief when he catches sight of his Captain and Padawan.
Rex and his commander move as one. She hasn't sheathed her lightsabers yet and Rex sticks close to her side. As their eyes move anxiously over their men-counting their dead-I realize that they got separated from us during the battle. They're wondering if we survived.
I wave a hand and Rex's eyes snap to it. His eyes wash over my troops, locking onto my figure. I shiver, knowing that he's counting my men, counting my dead.
A tired smile covers his lips. He touches Ashoka's shoulder, points to the Generals. Her eyes light up.
We all move forward, joining the Generals in the circle, already preparing for the next fight.
We've all survived. For now.
. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Commander Cody, execute order 66."
The clone straightened his shoulders. "Yes sir." The transmision ended.
He swore. He couldn't of have waited before giving the General's lightsaber back. He had to give it back. Nevermind. The Jedi were weak when compared to a thousand clones. The General was weak.
He would attack when the General was down. Surround him with men, ask him a question. The Jedi turn around, see the men who he trusted level blasters at him.
And he would fire the first shot.
A memory rose in his mind. Men fighting side by side. A man clapping him on the shoulder, calling a name.
"Cody…."
Who was Cody?
"Cody, I'm so proud of you."
The man smiled, why was he smiling? This was a war, why was he smiling? I know that man, why can't I remember him?
A man in blue is shaking me. "You don't have to do this, Cody. Snap out of it!"
Why is a brother shaking me?
"He's your General Cody! You trust each other! I didn't kill my Commander, you don't have to kill yours!"
Traitor.
The clone's voice shook. "Brother, please…..You promised him, just like I promised her."
He frowned and shook the memory away. He was wrong. That clone was no brother.
That clone would pay for his deed. He slung his blaster over his shoulder.
It was time for the Jedi to end.
Maybe I should have classified this as angst… *Sheepish shrug;)
Normal Cody speaks in first person, his feelings and thoughts are clear. Third person Cody thoughts are clouded, the order 66 chip is taking his ability to think for himself.
The torrent company symbol is a reference to a fic by one of my favourite authors, I can't recall the name.
Hope y'all liked this!