Cody sat at a lone table in the Mess hall, hoping to avoid conversation. Usually, several other clone officers and he would sit together. He didn't feel much like the company. He was still tired after his lack of sleep; he could sleep again now, he knew it. But the day had begun, and they would most likely reach Coruscant by the end of it.
He poked at the food before him with his fork, leaning both elbows on the table. Sleep was one thing. His appetite had still not fully returned. He was thankful for both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, despite everything they were still there. Others were fighting for him in ways he never even knew were possible. Clones were always made to fight for others, and were first created to be expendable. It had stopped bothering him long ago, at the very beginning of the war. Now... Everything seemed... Strange.
He would get used to it.
Eventually.
The man straightened, cracking his neck. He licked his dry lips, preparing to seek out a drink of water. It was easier to drink than to eat.
"What the...!" A surprised exclamation drew his attention. He stood, reflexes driving him from his seat. The sight that greeted him didn't want to click in his sleep-deprived mind.
A floating water canister. One of the men reached for it as it lifted into the air. "Don't - it's one of the Jedi," a voice reprimanded him, one hand snatching the other man's as he reached for his floating drink.
It wasn't one of the Jedi.
Cody's heart sank to his gut.
He really didn't mean to do these things.
He focused on putting it down - certainly his mind didn't want a drink so badly - and instead, another one of the drinks was scooted and sent flying off of a table. It smashed against a wall, and loudly clattered on the floor. The clone commander's heart pounded.
From across the room, Rex glanced up from a report he'd been writing. His eyes met Cody's and instantly, he knew exactly what was going on. Immediately, he stood, calmly crossed the room, snatched the floating canister, and set it firmly on the table. "All right, Yes-sir. I'll tell them," he spoke clearly, as though he was getting some message from the Jedi. "All right, clear the mess hall. General Skywalker and Commander Tano are running a drill-Jedi business."
The clones all stood and headed for the door in an orderly fashion, any previous concern gone from their faces as they all teased Tup, who'd looked at the floating canister as though he'd seen a ghost.
Cody sat once against, both hands splayed out on the table. He calmed his racing heart. He let out a short sigh, he needed to learn to control this, and preferably stay away from the Jedi until he could. The commander stood again, "Thanks, Rex ol' boy." He squared his shoulders.
Rex nodded and sat down across from him, pushing the water toward him. "Commander Tano says the Force knows what you want-sometimes before you do." He smirked slightly.
The commander huffed and smirked. "Great."
Rex was silent for a moment, contemplating what would be Cody's new life. Certainly, it was complicated. But he was certain Cody could handle it. After several minutes of silence, the captain spoke. "They shiny's face though... Tup, is it?" Rex grinned. "Lucky he didn't pass out."
"Poor rookie'll never live it down."
"Nope."
At that moment, Ahsoka came in. "What drill am I running, Rex?"
He shifted to look at the Jedi. "Sorry, Sir. There was... and incident."
"Aah, it was my fault, sir," Cody began, "I Force-lifted a water, didn't know I was doing it." The commander put a hand on Rex's shoulder, "Rex here saved my skin."
"Oh!" Ahsoka crossed the room and boosted herself onto the table between the two clones. "You're advancing faster than most Force-sensitives," Ahsoka hummed, then turned to Rex. "Good save." Rex nodded in response.
"It came from Obi-Wan, and he's a Jedi Master - could that be why?"
"Yes... possibly. Of course, this isn't exactly something that happens every day. When we reach Coruscant, I plan to look into it... Jocasta Nu-the librarian-can help me find information."
"All right, Commander Tano." Cody nodded. "And... Thank you again."
"You're welcome." Ahsoka smiled.
At that moment, Anakin walked in. He looked somewhere between annoyed and irritated.
Rex gulped, and was about to explain...
"Before you jump down someone's throat, Master..." Ahsoka smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, but it was MY idea... I just wanted to get you out of bed. You sleep in WAY too long when there isn't a mission, and I figured hearing YOU were running a drill would probably get you out of bed." Ahsoka hopped off the table and clasped her hands behind her back.
Anakin frowned down at her, then his expression slowly softened. "Okay Snips... but..."
"Don't do it again? I know, Master." Ahsoka turned and winked at Rex and Cody, then turned back to her master.
"Oh, Commander Cody, Obi-Wan was looking for you," Anakin added as an afterthought before heading out, gesturing for Ahsoka to follow. She walked after him like a beaten puppy, but she was barely hiding a grin. She waved at the two men in the mess hall, then disappeared around the corner.
Cody huffed another almost-laugh as soon as the General was out of earshot. "Captain," he said with a nod and headed off towards the door.
"Commander," Rex replied in kind, and watched his friend leave.
Cody made his way through the halls. Obi-Wan would most likely be in the bridge, so he began heading off towards the... The clone paused. He pulled his helmet on before closing his eyes, reaching out - it seemed almost instant this time, like second-nature. Perhaps it was the newfound Force connection between them. He could see an empty room, one of the large, unused storage rooms.
The Force led him there. He pushed the button to open the door when he arrived, "General?"
"Ah, good, Cody." Obi-Wan stood from his meditation position. "I had wondered... Anyway..." Obi-Wan let that thought drop. "How are you feeling?"
"Well enough to fight," There was some distant humor in Cody's response. That seemed to be how he gaged health - but it worked.
Obi-Wan made a face between a smile and a grimace-a grinace. "Well, I'll take it then."
Cody walked forward, the door closing behind him. "What is it we're doing, sir?"
"Oh, nothing too serious," Obi-Wan began. "Ahsoka mentioned she showed you the basics of meditation last night. I thought we could put it to practical use."
"Never knew there was a practical use, sir."
Obi-Wan snorted. "Perhaps that is because it was Padawan Tano who was teaching you. She sees little use in it either, though you would never hear her admit it." He smirked. "The practical use-when one can meditate in any situation-is to be one with the Force, and thus to be able to better control their abilities in it," Obi-Wan began.
Cody listened intently, stopping in front of the Jedi. "And no more flying water canteens."
"Flying w-never mind that, I suppose... it would seem you've a grasp of the Force that is far more extensive than I first believed," Obi-Wan stroked his beard in thought.
"Is that good then, General Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "I would say so, yes." Cody pulled his helmet off, setting it to the side on one of the crates.
Obi-Wan looked around the room, then nodded approvingly. He snatched Cody's recently removed helmet, and walked across the room with it, setting it on a different crate. "The practical application of meditating in the Force, is..." he held a hand toward the helmet, and lifted it slowly, spinning it without ever touching it, then setting it back down, "...a connection with the things around you. The better you are with meditation, the better your connection with the Force will be."
"I'm finding it easier to lift things than to set them down."
"That would present an unusual problem." Obi-Wan lifted the helmet again, holding it lightly through the Force. "Focus on it, and imagine taking it, and setting it down; only do not touch it. Reach out to it in the Force, and push it down gently."
Cody stretched out a hand, amber eyes closing. He took the helmet from Obi-Wan, raising it even slightly higher. Setting it down proved more challenging. It began inching down, one jolting movement at a time, as though struggling to break through invisible walls.
"Don't think of it as something you have to fight with, Cody. It's an object, and it does as you will it to."
For a moment, it dropped before Cody caught it again. He turned his hand slightly, scowling in concentration and annoyance at his mistake. It started lowering, smoothly this time - though the process was slow, as if in mud.
"Don't let it frustrate you... If need be, you could just drop it," Obi-Wan stated, voice surprisingly light.
"How will I know the Dark side from the Light?" Cody asked, even as he continued lowering the helmet. Eventually, it settled on the floor. He took a deep breath to push away the remnant frustration.
"The Dark side rises from pain, anger, and fear. Its motivation is to gain power, and keep it. The Light side rises from the desire to help others-to protect life, and share what gifts you have with others. The difference is immense."
Cody nodded. He had never expected to be in this situation; but now he was, and he would do what he had to for what was right. Most Jedi were raised in this life - he wasn't sure if it would be easier, or harder. "Did you ever know your family, sir?"
Obi-Wan's eyes grew distant. "I have a vague memory of a woman-I believe she was my mother. But no, I do not remember them... only an image."
"I'm sorry."
Obi-Wan shrugged. "Whatever for?"
"It would be hard, I imagine." Cody nodded.
"I never knew them. It wasn't so difficult. I have family-perhaps not blood, but family, nonetheless."
"Yes." Cody nodded in agreement. "What would you have me do now, General?"
"Go get some rest," Obi-Wan stated.