Now they had the men (or boys), Bo-Katan was more than happy to go ahead and go through with her master-plan in order to re-take the city. However, before they could start, Obi-Wan had requested a private word with Shaak Ti. From behind a docked ship, where he was certain they couldn't be heard and where he was certain, their were no clones that could eavesdrop on their conversation, he finally turned to face her.
"Are you okay, Obi-Wan?" she asked. "I know this is troubling. I am horrified by it, but if it's the council's wishes, we must abide to it".
"I am distrubed by these developments, but that's not what I want to speak to you about." he said.
"Oh," was all she gasped, "Then, why do you want to speak to me?"
"You were stationed on Kamino, weren't you?"
"Yes"
"You knew many squads on Kamino. Including those that dealt with complaints from clone captains, didn't you?"
Shaak Ti frowned.
"There is no such system in place," she told him, "All complaints go directly to the generals and clone captains and they handle it. The Kaminoans don't".
"There's a squad on Kamino," Obi-Wan, began to explain, "A squad called Volaris that deals with those complaints. Isn't there?"
Shaak Ti shook her head.
"There's no such squad. I swear to you," she informed him clearly. "I've watched over those men for years, and never known such a squad."
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes!" Shaak Ti stressed.
Obi-Wan placed a hand to his face and rubbed it. Feeling dread build in his gut, he knew the second Crys had said it, it had been a lie. He didn't know why he was expecting anything different. The captain of the 212th had panicked and plucked that tale of a fictional squad, out of the deepest part of his brain. However, with Shaak Ti now backing him up, he knew one disturbing fact.
His squad had lied to him.
"Obi-Wan, where is all this coming from?" Shaak Ti asked, clearly concerned for him.
"I wanted to tell Cody this. But I couldn't, not in front of the others and he has his own problems. I didn't want to add to them." Obi-Wan confessed. "and I can't talk to him privately, the Kaminoans are likely to be monitoring him at all times. Any private comm calls would raise suspicion, and you mentioned all communications are monitored, correct?"
"Yes, they were, but what's the problem?" she asked.
"I spoke with some of the men on the ship," Obi-Wan explained. "I was worried about them. Some of the men, are drinking. Missing drills and stealing contraband from supply crates, it appears to be a problem that wasn't reported to myself or Commander Cody."
"That's awful," Shaak Ti muttered.
Obi-Wan nodded.
"But it gets worse." he said. "I asked Crys why this wasn't reported to me. So he made up that story about Volaris on Kamino. I wasn't convinced, but acted like I was. I'm sure the men are smarter than that however. They know I'm onto them, what I don't understand is why they have lied to me about this? Why this isn't being reported? It's worrying me, I can't have the men faltering on this mission, we have to take this system!"
Shaak Ti was looking at him now, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Obi-Wan" she began. "When did this problem first start, when did the men start acting differently?"
"Umbara," he responded instantly, he didn't know how he knew the answer straight away. Until, he remembered what Cody had told him back in 79's, about the battalion not being the same after their experience on that dark world.
Shaak Ti sighed.
"Of course, your squad had to deal with what Krell put them through," she muttered the fallen Jedi's name in such distaste, it was as if she was hissing venom.
"What do you think is wrong? You know the clones best, I could use your council." Obi-Wan confessed to her.
Shaak Ti placed her hand on her chin, lost in deep thought, before she gave her answer.
"For now, all you can do is keep an eye on your men and keep them motivated" she eventually replied. "We don't know how wide-spread this problem is Obi-Wan, but if men are behaving that way and not informing you or Commander Cody. It tells me one simple thing, they don't trust you."
Obi-Wan felt like he'd been left to freeze on Orto Plutonia.
Those simple words, "they don't trust you", shattered his confidence.
"But, I don't abuse my men! I treat them with respect!" he huffed indignantly.
"I'm sure you do," Shaak Ti said comfortingly, "But honestly Obi-Wan, do you really care about them all, or are they a simple means to an end for you?"
Obi-Wan felt outraged with the suggestion.
"Of course I care about them!" he snapped.
"You just told me, the men couldn't falter on this mission, because we have to take this system." Shaak Ti reminded him, as Obi-Wan felt his face pale. Not realising he'd vocalised his darkest thoughts merely minutes ago. But the ever-observant Shaak Ti had noticed and was now giving him a very piercing look, that made him look to the ground in shame.
"They've been through so much, more than you could realise," she said. "They probably do like you and Commander Cody, but it isn't enough. They wouldn't lie to you, if they had full confidence in you. If they trusted you enough to share their problems, they would have done by now. If you're willing to show them all that you do care for them. That you are trustworthy, then I'm sure they would come clean to you and you can find out what's really going on."
Obi-Wan sighed, he felt sickened at himself. Had he always been this way? What had changed? Had he ever cared for the men in his service at all? He wanted to convince himself that he really was a great and noble general for his men. But Shaak Ti was telling the truth, they had lied to him. That was a solid fact, he knew he wasn't as close to his men as Anakin was to the 501st. Or how Plo-Koon's squad simply seemed to worship the man, or the way Commander Bly wistfully looked over at General Secura during that council meeting, he adored her, that much was clear. These clones would happily die for their Jedi generals, Anakin and Ahsoka could cultivate that sort of love from them. Obi-Wan couldn't, he wasn't like them and that thought made him ache internally.
"Can't you help me!? You're good with the men, they look up to you." Obi-Wan begged of the togruta.
"I can't, this is a trial you must face alone." she said to him.
"I promised Cody, I'd look after the men." Obi-Wan said bitterly to himself.
"You will," Shaak Ti reminded him. "But please, don't let hatred and anger cloud your judgement. I know what Maul did to you was awful, but you're letting it consume you. I think the men have noticed it. That's why they've become wary, you are a great Jedi and an even greater man Obi-Wan, don't let this planet be your downfall. More than you realise, is relying on your survival."
Obi-Wan thought of his men, of Cody, of Anakin and Ahsoka and the other Jedi. The confidence he had lost had returned, this time he placed a hand on Shaak Ti's shoulder.
"Thank you" he said warmly, "I'll do what I can for the men and we'll make it off this planet together. Promise?"
She returned his smile.
"Promise," she replied.
"Another bar?"
Ahsoka looked at the building in distaste, after her previous experience, she was just about done with bars or any sort of drinking business. What had once been a rare form of fun, that was limited to 79's, had been twisted, by the violent antics and shady characters in these tacky, underworld, establishments. Ahsoka didn't like the crowd of shady people lingering outside of this bar and it looked full inside, another hotbed of debauchery.
"If you're going to develop PTSD of bars, then I'm leaving you." Ventress said bluntly, "Because you're going to have get used to them. I have big plans and it will involve getting intel and these are the perfect spots to get them from."
Ahsoka groaned, despite her reservations, Ventress was already striding forward. Now she had been able to afford more clothes, she had lightsabre expertly covered. She still kept her old robes stashed away, but she had learnt to dress like Ventress. More "civilian" was the best look down here, her tank top, jacket, fitting trousers and boots were a murky mixture of pasty grey and olive. Dull, tedious clothing and colouring, but attire that would not draw attention and could hide her most prized weapon. Feeling less exposed now then she had done beforehand, she followed in Ventress shadow, but kept her held high.
Entering the place, it was as crowded and as rowdy as the other bars she'd experienced so far. Yet this bar seemed to be cleaner, more droids whizzed around giving service and cleaning tables. In brighter, blue neon lights, she saw the name of the bar was clearly, "The Bantha Boozer".
Ventress seemed to nod curtly at the barman, yet didn't approach him for conversation, instead she took a seat next to a theelin woman, who seemed to be waiting for the night sister.
"Ventress" the pigtailed woman greeted them, with a wide, devious smile. Before her gaze fell on Ahsoka.
"and you are?" she asked, her smile all but gone in an instant.
"An associate of Ventress, that's all you need to know" Ahsoka replied, not really sure if that was the "right" way to answer such a question. But she couldn't make herself weak and she couldn't go out giving her name to every random stranger who asked. So she held the gaze of the gaze of the woman in question who maintained it, before the theelin, looked away.
"She's quite feisty Ventress, good call" she muttered.
"Spare the small talk, Latts" Ventress said, before she laid out a sizeable amount of credits on the table, "Now, just like I promised."
"You really delivered." Latts said in amusement, eyeing the credits, before she scooped them up. "I think I'll buy us all a celebratory drink with this, don't you agree?"
"I'm not thirsty" Ventress snarled, "Now..." she began more threateningly "Where is Cad Bane, Latts?"
"Cad Bane!?" Ahsoka suddenly asked in alarm.
Latts laughed.
"Ah, she's keeping you in the dark, thought as much" Latts muttered. "You told me, you were planning to retrieve the Jedi brat, tell her everything and then you could both go and take them out".
"Take who out!?" Ahsoka inquired, more frustrated now, as she turned to the night-sister. "Ventress, who exactly are we taking out here? Cad Bane!?"
Ventress glowered.
"She's moaned enough, you know what these holier-than-thou Jedi are like." Ventress explained to Latts.
"Yes, well she's still fetching a high price, but after destroying and raiding that bar a few days back, that price has dropped". Latts muttered. "You went from hunted to rather treasured down here, little girl" she said, turning to Ahsoka now. "Good for business here, you and Ventress did some fine work. That Fosh lady was so uptight about the state of her bar. No room for fun, but now more custom is here and after seeing all those bodies, well I don't think anyone has the will to face you."
"That also means more dangerous people will come for me." Ahsoka said darkly, realising the truth behind Latts' mocking smile "and you probably want me to give you some credits so I can find out who they are and where they are."
"She's adapting fast! I'm impressed Ventress!" Latts exclaimed in joy.
"Just tell me what I need to know," Ventress stressed.
"Fine," Latts said "Cad Bane and that harpy with him, Aurra Sing were last seen on Level 34. Apparently they've come across a mountain of republic credits and are setting up their own criminal empire down there. They're killing off competition and threating and taxing businesses to keep their income going, they're using the money to hire their own security and apparently, they just recently starting talking to the Pyke Syndicate themselves for deals on Spice trade."
"How did you get all this information!?" Ahsoka asked sceptically, the minute she finished.
"Latts here is the best at what she does," Ventress admitted, "I've worked with her before, she's something of a friend of mine."
"Something of a friend, she's so moody, isn't she?" Latts, asked of Ahsoka.
"Well, I suppose" the togruta replied, with a faint smile.
"Anyway, it's Ahsoka Tano isn't it?" Latts asked, knowing her name already made Ahsoka feel embarrassed at her pathetic cover, yet Latts maintained her smile. "Don't look so shy Ahsoka. Everyone saw you on the Holo-news, everyone knows what happened at the temple. Guess you realised the Jedi aren't as high and mighty as you first realised, but now you're with us!" she mused.
"I, really don't know how to feel about all that" Ahsoka muttered, her confidence fading and her self-doubt starting to return. "I don't think the Jedi are evil, they are trying to stop this war. They're just... lost".
"Lost!" Latts exclaimed, howling with laughter, causing a few other people to stare, she calmed down before finding her voice again, "Ahsoka, they were willing to let you die over a false charge! How can you defend them!? After what they did to you!"
"I don't need reminding, thanks" Ahsoka muttered.
"Listen, you're down here now. With us" Latts said, "and when I get the old gang back together, you can help us out! Ventress proved useful too us, you can do the same."
"I'm still having doubts about running around with criminals," Ahsoka emphasised sharply.
"Even if said criminals, are taking down more targets than the Jedi?" Latts asked, "What we do isn't clean work Ahsoka, but it's far more than what the Jedi do for us. We take down dangerous people, people who make the lives of others hell. What does your order do!? Take those walking lab-rats everywhere they go and bring war to every system."
"Don't insult the clones!" Ahsoka snapped, feeling genuine anger now, "They don't have a choice! They aren't the problem!"
"Well then the republic certainly is," Latts muttered, unfazed by Ahsoka's anger, "What does the republic do for the little people? Next to nothing, that's what."
"Yes, because I'm sure your vigilante work is so much better," Ahsoka said sarcastically, "Especially to whoever pays you the highest."
"We have to make a living somehow." Latts responded, once again unfazed by the young Togruta.
"When you two are finished," Ventress snapped, finally losing her patience and re-joining the conversation. "Is that all the information you have?"
"That's everything," Latts said, "If I had more, I'd charge you for it Ventress. I don't make those runs to those lower levels, for nothing you know."
"Then we're done here" Ventress said, standing up and preparing to leave. "We're going Ahsoka" she instructed clearly, "I'd rather not waste more money on Latts' intel here, we know where they are now. We can head down there ourselves and collect more information as we go."
Ahsoka went to stand, but stopped herself.
"Ventress, are we taking down Cad Bane and Aurra Sing then?" she asked, wanting to be clear on the subject. "I've faced them before and they won't go down easily!"
"What do you think I've tried to tell her?" Latts added.
"You're not scared, are you Ahsoka?" Ventress teased, "Surely, you want to take down Bane and Sing? You can do that, can't you? To truly help all those idiots above? Imagine that, Aurra Sing and Cad Bane, killed by an exiled Jedi. Imagine the reward the republic will grant you, imagine the honour you'll receive!"
Ahsoka frowned.
"We could get those things from taking out other notorious bounty hunters" Ahsoka pointed out, "Why those two in particular? Why now? What's this really all about, what's with the risk?"
Latts laughed once again.
"She really is sharp, this one!" she chuckled, "Ventress, you might as well just tell her."
"Tell me what!?" Ahsoka demanded.
"I have a score to settle, Cad Bane and Aurra Sing are my leads," Ventress said clearly.
"Crazy task, isn't it?" Latts said to Ahsoka, "I wouldn't take it, no matter how high the bounty, and that's not even the worst of it. It's not just those two Ventress wants to take down. They were seen a bar with someone, someone our beloved night-sister here, wants to kill."
"Who is it!?" Ahsoka asked.
Ventress sighed and opened her mouth...
"Dooku! Count Dooku!?" Ahsoka raged, pacing after Ventress down that dark alley.
"Yes, I'm taking down Count Dooku. I'll torture the life out of Cad Bane and Aurra Sing in order for them to give me the information I want!" Ventress stressed, turning to face the smaller girl, as she leered down at her.
"He abandoned me! He left me to die! and then him and that cyber-freak Grievous killed my people!" she raged, her eyes burning in hatred at the very mention of her former master's name.
"Ventress," Ahsoka muttered, looking up at the face of pure fury above her. "This vengeance isn't going to lead us anywhere."
"So what, we go hunting small fish!?" Ventress snarled, "Let Sing and Bane grow their little empire!? Let my former master get away with his treachery!? When I learned my former master was down here. I knew now was my chance, my chance for revenge! I would have done it alone, but then I heard about you and I knew I'd be better off with allies, even if you are a pest. I know you won't refuse this mission."
"I know the benefits if we succeed!" Ahsoka exclaimed "It would be a dream if we could get rid of all three of them! But the two of us aren't going to do it! Can't we hire more help!?"
"You heard Latts back there, she wouldn't take the risk, regardless of the bounty. Many others are the same." Ventress said. "Besides, with a smaller group, it attracts less attention and without the force. You'd just be dead weight when going against those three."
"This is insane." Ahsoka concluded.
"Then you can leave and go back into hiding and barely surviving and doing nothing!" Ventress raged, her face now inches from Ahsoka's own. "Or you can help me out and you can fulfil your sense of justice by taking out these targets and I... I can get my vengeance. So we're both happy."
Ahsoka fell silent for a short while, as insane as Ventress was. As insane as this mission was, Ventress was right. She wasn't going to formulate any sort of life in this underworld by doing nothing. The run in with the Fosh woman had been unfortunate, but it seemed like Ventress wanted to test the young togruta to see if she could kill when she needed too. Usually, herself and the Jedi would try and arrest those dangerous targets who needed to be taken down.
However, Cad Bane's numerous escapes from the detention centre had proved them wrong.
Sometimes, these scumbags needed to be taken care of.
Ahsoka knew she was going down a darker road, but the lofty sense of justice, that came with sparing dangerous criminals, separatists and bounty hunters. Only resulted in more deaths and misery further on down the line. However cold it was, however wrong it seemed, these people had to go. The republic was willing to spare Cad Bane for killing numerous clones and causing destruction and years of misery for them, yet the second she was suspected of doing something wrong that hadn't even killed a fraction compared to others, she was sentenced to death!? The true injustice of it all was reflected in her own face, as she looked back at Ventress own.
"Do not let your emotions control you, this is wrong, to act in such blind hatred and fury" came the collective, calmer voice of the Jedi in her mind.
That was the right thing to do.
But the hell with the right thing.
She was angry.
She was fed up of doing nothing. She could actually make a difference! She'd disregarded her own life so many times during the clone wars, in order to save her friends or to ensure the battle was a success (the second battle of Geonosis sprang to mind. Herself and Barriss, like good little soldiers, were more than willing to die to take out that factory). Now Barriss was imprisoned and Ahsoka was here, with a chance to change things once again.
Why was she refusing this? Wasn't this is what she'd been doing all along? Despite what the Jedi had told her?
"When you put it like that Ventress, I still think this plan is crazy," Ahsoka thought out-loud "But, you're right. I'm tired of doing nothing. Those three have to go down. Quite frankly, I'm done caring what the order thinks. I know what the right thing is and I'm gonna help you do it."
Ventress smiled.
"Finally, you're starting to get the message." she said, "Now let's move and don't expect a I'm so proud of you speech. Because I'm not, I'm just amazed it took you this long to see some common sense."
Ahsoka smiled regardless as the former Jedi, followed the night-sister further into Coruscant's depths. Despite the danger looming ahead of them. Ventress had given her a mission! A purpose and something to fight for, rather than simply and aimlessly drifting into a mundane life. She almost felt like she was following her skyguy, into another battle and that made her heart ache slightly.
"Anakin" she muttered under her breath.
Would he be proud of her now?
Knowing him and his reckless ways, she knew he would be.
Child soldiers.
Child soldiers.
The word kept bouncing around in Cody's head, but that didn't make it anymore right. It didn't normalise the fact, not in the slighest. He laid down in his bed and remembered the past couple of days, that had flown by the a flurry of lectures he'd given hundreds of his fellow brothers. What was worse, was that right after he heard about the use of these younger cadets in frontline battle. He was given the task of speaking to the children about the war itself.
"Our new bill was passed yesterday, as I'm sure you are aware." Nala Se, seemed to happy to inform him. As the commander followed her silently, fuming from underneath his helmet but keeping to his master's advice and holding his tongue. He knew full well his call with the temple had been monitored, all communication was checked here. She probably wanted him to rage at her, so she could have a valid excuse to classify him as "damaged" and in need of a reconditing, so his memories and sense of self were wiped away completely. A fresh clone bearing Cody's name and rank would replace him, but it wouldn't be Cody. It would be a submissive shadow of the man he once was.
The long-lasting clone was not going to be the perfect puppet for them. Yet he had to act that way, if he really didn't want his memories, or even his life, torn away from him.
"I was made aware of the change" Cody said curtly.
"Clones who are now aged 6 and above will be drafted out to the war and will receive more extensive training." Nala Se, said, seemingly proud of herself. "Of course, you'll continue to assist us with their assessments, speaking of which, we noticed an abnormally low pass rate yesterday. Were the squads not up to your standards?"
"Unfortunately not," Cody replied, betraying no emotion. "But I've given them feedback and they will make improvements. Our army is the greatest in the galaxy, I won't have anything less than perfect on the battlefield."
"Ah, we agree!" Nala Se said, all her doubts wiped from her face. Cody knew any mention of perfection, was something to get on their good sides.
"Now, the cadets are well behaved." Nala Se said, when they eventually reached the exterior of a large hall, looking in. Cody could see what must have been hundreds of child clones, sat in a large, blank, white room. Some of them turned curiously to each other, others remained still, others looked bored out of their minds and the Commander of the 212th could hardly blame them.
"They'll listen too you, after all word from a war veteran is vital for them. Shaak Ti seemed to think so as well." Nala Se informed him. "Some of these clones even fought when Kamino was invaded."
Cody had remembered that battle, as much as he didn't want to. When he had returned to Kamino that time, it didn't feel like home, just another battle, as he was with his Jedi generals and Captain Rex. When Grievous and Ventress had made their lives hell and it was when 99 had met his end. A memory that still pained him to this day, everyone knew and liked the old clone janitor. A soldier helping his brothers right till the very end, despite his deformities, 99 was a brother just as much as they all were. He hoped some of the cadets present today, were there when 99 had died. Cody had remembered how they used the sleeping pods above them to ambush the droids, they'd proved a helpful bunch.
But even if they were, they'd only experienced one battle. It was nothing compared to the hundreds they would experience across the galaxy.
"Your lecture will take a few hours, teach them about what planets they're likely to be stationed on, what to expect." Nala Se, instructed "They'll have a short break, then you can continue your lecture."
Once again it was vague, but like overseeing the training yesterday, he knew the second he was in there, he'd naturally fall into it.
So he did.
"STAND TO ATTENTION TROOPERS!" He bellowed, entering the room, causing many of the younglings to jump up in surprise. Some were faster than others, but all of them got to their feet eventually.
"First order of business!" Cody said, removing his helmet, watching several pairs of eyes widen at his scarred face. "Is that you show respect for your superiors! Those of you got up first, well done! You'll be the most likely to survive the first battles! Because reaction time is everything out there! Those of you who were slower, be more alert! Surprise attacks will end up killing more of you than you can realise! Now, sit down!"
They frantically sat down again. Cody smiled, he had their attention now. He'd never addressed a classroom full of children before. But decided he was not going to patronize them, he'd treat them the way he'd treat his own squad, if he caught them misbehaving.
"My name is Cody" he said, introducing himself. "The Commander of the 212th Attack Battalion, under the command of General Obi-Wan Kenobi. At the request of the Jedi council however, I've been sent here to educate you all on the war itself. I'm sure you know who I am and I'm sure you've been told that when you reach your 6th life days, if you haven't already, you'll be sent out to war! I'm here to prepare you for all that! So listen up! My advice might save your life one day!"
He scanned the room (he supposed he'd call it a classroom). Some younger clones still looked bored, but a fair few of them looked attentive enough. A bright eyed, clone boy sat at the front, looked particularly alert and proud of himself.
He began his lectures on the planets they'd be likely to be sent to, Mygetto a hellhole, Geonosis maybe, another hellhole, he was beginning to describe a particularly long list of dangerous fauna on Felucia, when he heard someone snigger at the back of the room.
"You'll raise your hand if you want to speak!" Cody bellowed, finding the two guilty clones, with their heads bent together.
"CADETS!" He almost screamed, with a ferocity, that made many of them jump. All the others turned towards the two guilty clones, feeling themselves being watched, they looked up. Their faces burning in embarrassment at being caught like this.
"Explain to me, what you think is more important, than potentially life-saving information!?" he inquired harshly.
The clones looked stunned, but eventually (with a cocky smile) one of them spoke up;
"We fought during the invasion of Kamino," he explained to the commander. "This lecture's pointless, besides, we didn't just fight on Kamino! Our ship, the endurance was destroyed! Thanks to that traitor Lucky! But we've experienced our fair share of war!"
"Yes, two battles," Cody snarled, "If you think you're ready for the war. Then you can leave right now and not disturb those who actually want to get out of this war in one piece!"
The one clone fell silent, but the cockier one, wasn't backing down.
"You can lecture us all you want, but experience is the best teacher!" he exclaimed, "and I've had plenty of it."
"Now I seem to recall who you are." Cody said, "You mentioned a traitor? Yes, that was well documented, a plot to kill General Windu on the endurance? and you must be one of the younglings found on that escape pod? After you were betrayed, I don't see what sort of fighting you were doing on that".
The other clones laughed lightly, the arrogant one however didn't back down.
"So!?" he thundered. "I helped during Kamino, I was there in the sleeping pods! I remember helping the other soldiers against those droids! Even after that old clone died..."
"99" Cody felt himself say automatically, "Was a true soldier, if you ever hope to be in the same league as him, I suggest you listen to what I have to say."
The cocky clone went to open his mouth again.
"Come on Hotshot, just drop it." the bright eyed clone, said. "Commander Cody here could teach us something useful, it's important we all listen!"
"Yeah, just trying to suck up to the teacher Jax!?" Hotshot snapped back.
"I'm not..." Jax began.
"...QUIET!" Cody thundered. Dealing with these younglings was turning into some sort of fiasco, once they got bored it was game over.
Another clone raised his hand.
"Yes, cadet" Cody said, addressing him and trying to stop Jax and Hotshot from bickering.
"Where'd you get the scars from, Commander?" the curious youngling asked.
"The war, that's all I'll say about that" Cody replied. Before he realised the clone in question, hadn't asked about just his one scar, the arc on his forehead, that ran down past the side of his eye and ended half way down his cheek. That scar was obtained during one of his first battles, something Cody didn't like to ponder on as the still had nightmares about it and had never experienced pain like it. He realised he must have had another scar and quickly came to realise the gash above his eye he obtained in the bar-fight at 79's was his recovering scar. It wouldn't be permanent but it was still visible to them all.
Cody had forgotten about the scar, he'd forgotten how he'd obtained it in the first place. He'd been drinking, then his men had started fighting, everything after that was a blur. He didn't know why the fight had started, or who had started it. All he knew is that insults were bellowed out that he simply would not stand for, before he knew it he was back at the bar with Rex. Nursing the injury and trying to maintain control, that was when his General had turned up out of the blue.
While he was deep thought, he failed to notice that Jax had thrust his hand in the air, snapping back to reality, he quickly said, "Yes... cadet?"
"Commander, sir, how do you save men under your command?" he asked thoughtfully. "How do you protect them?"
Cody looked intently at him, there was something different about this young clone from the others, he could sense that.
"Well, there's no real way to do that." he admitted honestly. "But I will tell you this, if you want to protect your brothers. If a battle is lost, don't feel any shame in retreating, the Jedi you'll serve under will be understanding. Most of the time." he finished darkly, his memories flashing back to the likes of Pong Krell and Barriss Offee. "However, no matter what you do, you'll lose your brothers, it's a reality about war you all have to be prepared for."
This left a grim silence in it's wake, even Hotshot kept his mouth sealed shut.
"So" Cody continued, "To reduce those chances, even by a little. I suggest you listen up, do I make myself clear!?"
"Sir, yes Sir!" they bellowed back, Jax in particular was louder than the others. Whereas Cody was able to get through the rest of the day, relatively un-interrupted after that. The following day, the more-grown up clones, were much better behaved and didn't cut through Cody at all. They listened intently and the commander of the 212th spent the night gulping down water, as his mouth was dry from so much talking. He didn't really know if he was helping his fellow brothers or not, but he had to believe, he was doing everything he could. He couldn't stop the republic from sending children out to war, but he could prepare them as best as he could.
He looked up at the ceiling, thinking about his general and his men, how were they doing? Did they like Hap? Was General Kenobi doing okay? He couldn't think of them for too long, or he'd drive himself crazy. He had to think about himself, as selfish as it seemed. Tomorrow was combat training and then the day after he had to submit a written report to the Jedi council.
The commander closed his eyes, trying to get some kip, if he thought deeply, he could almost hear his brother's whispering back to him.
He paused.
No, he really could hear clones speaking!
"WHOSE THERE!" He bellowed, shooting up in his bed, the whispers instantly ceased, but Cody was faster, he looked up at the ventilation shaft, just in time to see the outline of a head quickly retreat, back behind cover.
He felt sick.
He was being observed and he had a horrible gut feeling that this wasn't the Kaminoans work. They would make it obvious if they were using clones to spy on him from the shafts and they hadn't mentioned anything about maintenance around his room being conducted in the shafts. He didn't know what to think, all he knew, is that they were watching him.
and something felt wrong about that.
A/N: Okay another set-up, slow-ish chapter. Been struggling to update and write lately, got a case of writer's block unfortunately it happens from time to time. Just need to wait for inspiration to strike once again. Will probably stick to weekly updates from now on, so I don't burn myself out. Anyway hope you enjoyed this chapter! Once again I liked writing Cody's bits and decided to add the young clones used on the Endurance and the one's betrayed by Boba Fett in that episode. It makes the Kamino plot feel more populated with different characters rather than it just being Cody, the squad and the Kaminoans. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka were fun sections as well.
So thanks to the guest for the review and advice last chapter, will describe the child clones in more detail when I re-edit the previous chapter and in future chapters on Mandalore. Thanks again for your support and for all those following and favouriting this fic thank you too! I'll see you next chapter!