I know. This is late. Sorry. We'll just jump right in.

CC-2224 was one of the last active troopers from the Clone Wars. He had never disobeyed an order, never talked back to his superiors, and had never shown emotion. It had been a long time since he had seen another clone. In fact, he was considering retiring on some quiet planet all alone with the little remaining peace he had left in his mind (if he had anything left in his mind).

This is why he was so shocked to face a rebel one day- that looked awfully familiar.

He had been assigned with a squad on an Imperial Transport ship- his job was simple. Navigate to the nearest Imperial bay without losing the cargo.

Out of nowhere, a rebel ship appeared out of hyperspace and caught everyone off guard. Silently, CC-2224 cursed his fellow soldiers and their stupidity. Someone hadn't been watching the scanners and hadn't given a warning of an incoming ship. He swore he'd find the guy later and strangle him- if he lived through the fight, that is.

Shots were heard, and the old clone begrudgingly put on his helmet. Something about this armor always felt so wrong... but he shook the thought aside and headed towards the sounds with a cocked gun at the ready.

He rounded a corner to find a rebel standing over several downed troops. The rebel in question was holding dual pistols and had an old Republic clone uniform.

CC-2224 thought the design and colors looked familiar but couldn't quite place it in his memory. But no matter- A rebel had a brother's helmet and the old clone felt a surge of anger towards the man. No one wore clone armor anymore- especially not a Rebel. He practically dove at him and the two quickly lost their weapons relying on physical combat.

Eventually, CC-2224 managed to yank the helmet off the man's head and jerked back, holding it in his arms, protectively. As he went to yell at the man for stealing a brother's helmet, the words died in his throat. He stared in shock at the reflective image he saw.

The clone glared at the Imperial trooper, "I'll give you one warning. Give me the helmet, or else."

CC-2224 looked down at the design in his arms. Blue and white with dual pistols… A face, long buried and forgotten seemed to rise from the dust and droning voices. A familiar face…

"Rex?" the name slipped out before CC-2224 could stop himself.

The clone stiffened up and pointed his pistols at the trooper. "How do you know my name?"

CC-2224 struggled to think. Who was Rex? He was a brother, obviously. The two were close… He left the army after… after another brother died. What was his name again?

"How do you know my name?" Rex emphasized again.

It was a number… like his name. No, his name wasn't a number… It was something else… Something… soft… Wait, what?

CC-2224 felt lightheaded. He grip on the helmet loosened slightly. "I… I…"

"Who are you?"

CC-2224 felt like crying. He didn't know at this point in his life. So he said the one thing that popped into his mind.

"... Pillow."

Rex's face went from angry to shocked to horrified in a matter of two seconds. He marched forward and yanked the helmet off the Imperial trooper.

CC-2224 didn't feel like he should fight back. So he didn't. He blinked at the man- unfocused. He knew him…

Rex dropped the helmet and took a few steps back, his horror growing on his face… "Cody?"

Something inside CC-2224 snapped. That name started echoing inside, in hundreds of voices. Some yelled the name, others moaned, as if they were dying. Some were friendly in calling, and others wished him harm. He felt sick inside, and very very confused. Without realizing it, he mumbled to himself, "Good soldiers follow orders…"

Rex didn't even hesitate. He punched the clone square in the jaw with all of his might.

CC-2224 dropped into darkness without firing a shot.

Everything was fuzzy. And dark. Why was it dark?

CC-2224 tried to open his eyes, but found he didn't have the strength. So he started reaching out with his other senses.

Wherever he was, it smelled a lot like a medical bay. Something about that smell made him want to smile… someone stubborn hated this place- and someone more stubborn kept them there.

He felt warm and was laying on something soft- which probably meant he was on a bed… or recovery bed, if he was in a medical bay.

His mouth had a vile taste in his mouth, but a little familiar. The man later identified it as pain killer.

Last, but not least, the noise. Two voices, raised, were very muted and muffled, making it impossible for the clone to understand.

He tried to move, but found it exhausting and soon gave up. CC-2224 thought back, trying to remember what happened.

He was on a transport… A rebel ship attacked… And there was a man… No! A brother!

Who punched him out cold.

'Well, at least he didn't shoot me. But kriff, how hard did he hit me?' Hard, apparently.

The voices were now coming into focus.

"-leave him, Kanan! He's my brother!"

"He's a clone who was working with the Empire!"

"He didn't have a choice, and you know it."

"Rex, I'm trying to be patient with you, but this is not a good idea. I don't care if he had a chip, he still could be loyal to the Empire."

"Kanan, I know Cody. We fought side-by-side on the front lines and I can tell you right now, Cody would never side with them. Ever."

'The clone called me Cody… Rex. That was his name. And I'm… Cody?' 'Cody' tried out the name in his mind and found that he quite liked it. He wondered why he ever stopped using it. His attention turned back to the two rebels.

"Kanan, I respect the Jedi. I respect their opinion. But I am telling you, Cody is the most loyal, and brave soldier I have ever worked with."

Cody stopped listening. Something about that sentence put him on edge. It wasn't his name… it was the other word. Jedi… He knew that word. But why?

Over the years, the trooper had found it hard to keep his mind straight. When it started to get really hard, he found that he unconsciously shoved all of his memories in the back of his head. Memories about times before the Empire. The pounding words, "Good soldiers follow orders," would drive the desire to remember away.

And for the first time in over 15 years, those words seemed to have vanished.

Cody could only describe it as a tidal wave of memories flooding back into his view.

No… No… No!

He was sitting up before his eyes flew open. "Rex!"

The two speakers were startled out of their conversation and whirled towards the clone.

The first was Rex, and Cody was shocked at how old he looked. Then again, he had aged a lot as well. The second must have been Kanan, but not at all what Cody was expecting. Brown hair, green tunic, with a mask over his eyes.

But Cody didn't care about the other man. He simply stared at his brother, the horror and terror on his face clearly showing.

Rex rushed forward and Cody broke. He cried and bawled and babbled hugging his brother tight, afraid it was all a dream.

Rex tried to calm him down, mumbling in Mando'a, much the same as Cody had done all those years ago, but Cody wasn't ready to stop.

The clone had been unable to cry for years- a prisoner in his own obedient body. Now that he could, he was afraid he would never be able to stop. "I didn't wanna… I didn't wanna… I didn't wanna…" was all he could say; never finishing, but Rex understood.

I didn't want to join the Empire.

I didn't want to end freedom.

I didn't want to kill the Jedi.

For three hours, Cody continued to mumble this, crying, moaning, and in one case, hitting, over and over and over again, his face buried in his brother's armor. Eventually, he fell asleep, leaning against his brother and for once in his life, not being the pillow.

Not sure if I should say "I'm sorry" or "Your Welcome". I can't tell you how many times watching Rebels I wanted Cody to pop up. Didn't happen (and probably for the best), but if he did-

Oh the fluff. Oh the angst.

And we still have... six chapters after this! Hooray!

Review please!