Uh... Yeah, I don't know how this happened.

Yes, you do, Master.

Not helping, Padawan.

Commander Pillow: Slaves of the Republic: Chapter 6: Ripping Stitches

"Move, move, move!" Cody yelled as the rocket came straight for the line of men. He dropped down to the ground, covering his head as the world turned into dust, yells, and ringing ears. Training kicked in as he crawled away from the explosion to the nearest corner of cover. Men around him were scrambling in similar positions as guns were aimed and fired.

The advancing droids were just a small group. The planet had been won already, but it was just a matter of hunting down the last bits of droid companies that had been left behind. It was a job that Cody hated the most. Losing brothers after a victory to small resistance cells seemed pointless. Stupid even. But it was part of the war and there was nothing anyone could do to change it.

Cody looked at the horizon, scanning the enemy. "All rocket's launch on section three-point-three on my mark!"

The coms flared to life with "yes, sir"s and "ready for launch"s. Wooley appeared beside Cody, nodding in greeting. "Ready to press forward, Commander."

"On my mark, Captain," Cody looked back at the approaching tank. "All rockets ready!... Fire!"

Four steam streaks appeared, flying over Cody's position and slammed into the oncoming enemy. Scrap and dust flew from the impact site as Cody nodded to Wooley.

"Alpha and Bravo, follow me!" Wooley jumped over the cover, pressing the attack followed by a few dozen clones.

"Rockets, reposition and reload!" Cody ordered over the com units. He peeked over his cover to find his next target.

General Kenobi suddenly appeared beside him, which Cody wasn't sure if he should be surprised or annoyed. "General, you're supposed to be resting. Stitch's orders."

"You know how I feel about leaving all the work to you, Commander." Obi-Wan shot back. "And I've been cleared for combat." He ignited his saber and ran after Wolley. Cody sighed heavily but knew there was nothing he could do about it right now.

"Rocket's ready, sir!" was barked over the coms making Cody focus back on the battle.

"Alright, on my mark sector two-point- DOWN, DOWN!" Cody hit the dirt, covering his neck with his hands as two more rockets came straight at the line. The world turned brown. Something slammed into his head and Cody saw stars. He blinked, struggling to move his… anything. It was like his arms and legs were pinned and all he could smell was dirt.

After what seemed like hours of muted colors and sounds, the crushing weight suddenly vanished and Cody found himself looking up at Stitch, who was mouthing something he didn't quite catch. Then Stitch stabbed something into his arm.

That seemed to do the trick as Cody suddenly registered sound and the pain that flared from his chest. Stitch nodded at the groan that Cody emitted. "Well, nice to have you back in the present, Pillow. Nothing too serious as far as I can tell, but you might have a few fractured ribs. Maybe even a broken one."

"Gee, thanks," Cody ground out through the pain.

"You're welcome," Stitch replied, as cheerful as ever. He lifted up his gun and fired at the enemy. "Now get moving."

Cody groaned but forced the pain out of his mind. He gripped his blaster and stood up, shooting at the approaching droids. The number of enemies had fallen dramatically since Cody had last looked, which was good. This battle was almost over.

Stitch shot down a battle droid, glancing at this batchmate. "Haven't done this in a while, vod."

"Shut up and keep your eyes on the enemy."

Stitch laughed as he took down another two droids in quick succession. His time off the field had certainly not dulled his skills. "Just admit that you missed me."

Cody forced down a smile, taking down three droids to prove a point. "Not on your life."

"You're no fun, Pillow." Stitch complained.

That made Cody smile, his eyes flicking to the medic for a second.

It was a long time ago that Cody learned he had the worst timing. How else do you catch a Jedi at precisely the right time to be the Jedi's "pillow"? Or be on the wrong patrol at the wrong time to get captured by the enemy? You don't think it could get worse than that. You'd be wrong.

The precise second he looked at Stitch a red bolt shot straight through armor, flesh, and armor. In that order.

Cody felt something inside seem to bend and then snap. His blaster dropped out of his hands and he rushed to catch Stitch.

Stitch's gun dropped to the ground followed shortly by its owner. Stitch felt arms wrap around his back and neck, gently lowering him to the ground. He couldn't breathe. The pain was too much. Someone pulled off his helmet, allowing him to see past the dust and grime that covered his visor. He managed a shaky breath, his shock-filled eyes resting on Cody's face. The idiot removed his helmet in the middle of a battle. For some reason, Stitch couldn't find it in himself to be angry.

Cody cradled his brother, eyes wide. He felt like he needed to say something. Something, anything. But all he could do was grasp Stitch's forearm. He couldn't even call for a medic, his voice stuck in his throat.

Stitch's fingers found Cody's own forearm and he held it as best he could. His eyes remained fixed on Cody's. Another shaky breath and then a single word. "Vod…"

Cody tightened his grip. Stitch raised a shaky fist. It only rose an inch, maybe two. And then it thudded against his armor, his last breath pushed out, his eyes glazed over and his head fell back.

Then Cody found himself completely and utterly alone.

Obi-Wan slashed the last droid, watching it fall to the ground, feeling much more like himself than he had in a long time. He had to admit, without his clones he didn't know if he'd been able to recover this much from his time in slavery. Or at least recover this much without a mind healer.

He really didn't like mind healers.

So he was a little confused when he felt a surge of panic rise up inside of him. He took a deep breath, trying to center himself only to find nothing happened. He tried again. The same result. The panic turned into pain and then a screaming sorrow that threatened to drown him.

It was only then Obi-Wan realized the emotions were not his own. They were echoes in the force. Powerful ones that contained a familiar presence. Too familiar.

Obi-Wan turned away from Wooley, who had been reporting about the battle being over or something, and sprinted back to the main lines.

He found Cody kneeling on the ground. In his arms, he was clutching Stitch with all of his strength. Cody's face was pale, eyes full of shock, hands trembling. But the Force inside him was screaming out in so much pain that Obi-Wan had to take a moment to center himself before dropping next to his loyal Commander.

Cody didn't even look at him, unable to tear his eyes away from the lifeless gaze of his brother. His breaths were stuttered, unshed tears trying to make themselves known but unable to come forth.

Obi-Wan lifted up Stitch's head and gently closed the clone's eyes. "May the Force be with you, Stitch."

"St… Stitch?" Cody's voice finally came in a whisper.

Obi-Wan closed his own eyes, knowing what was coming.

"Stitch?" Cody asked again. "This isn't… it's not funny!"

"Cody-" Obi-Wan tried but was interrupted.

"Stitch!" Cody yelled, shaking the body as if it would spring to life. "Stitch, wake up!"

Obi-Wan knew it was useless. So he leaned forward and press his fingers against Cody's temple. "Sleep, Commander."

The Force suggestion was strong and immediately Cody slumped forward into the darkness, welcoming the sudden nothingness that greeted him.

Cody couldn't remember how he got back to The Negotiator. He also didn't remember how he got in his General's quarters. Had Obi-Wan had a bad night and Cody watched him to make sure the nightmares didn't get too bad? No, that didn't seem right. Perhaps it had been a late-night strategy meeting. But there was no holo map floating in the room and the General wasn't slumped against him fast asleep.

Actually, his General wasn't anywhere in sight. Cody sat up on the cot, looking around the empty room with definite confusion. He stretched his mind back to the last thing he remembered-

Stitch.

General Kenobi walked in at that exact moment, a cup of tea in each hand. "Here," he handed Cody one of the cups. "You've been out for almost a day."

Cody took the tea but didn't drink it.

"Cody…" Obi-Wan sat down beside his friend. "I'm so sorry. Maybe if I had been faster-"

"This isn't your fault, General," Cody shook his head. "I should have kept my eyes on the battle. I could have-"

"This isn't your fault either, Cody." Obi-Wan shook his head. "It's war. There was nothing you could do."

Cody jumped to his feet, his anger spiking, "He wasn't supposed to die!" He practically shouted. Then he remembered who he was talking to. "I'm sorry General, I didn't-"

"Cody, you're dealing with the loss of a brother. I understand."

"I should be better than this, General," Cody shook his head, turning away. "I'm a soldier. A Commander. Loss is part of the war. Bury the dead, pack up, give a final salute, then move one. That's how it should go. That's-"

"Cody," Obi-Wan interrupted. "You may be a clone, but that does not mean that this, this right here, is healthy. You can mourn your brothers, albeit it may have to be a bit more rushed or held off for after large battles." His voice died, coming back much softer than before. "And trust me, I know that better than anyone."

Cody frowned. "Sir?"

"The Jedi and clones have that in common," Obi-Wan chuckled. It sounded empty. "Neither of us is allowed to dwell on our feelings."

"General-"

"Let me finish, Cody," Obi-Wan patted on the empty spot next to him, a clear sign for Cody to sit again. The commander did so on instinct but kept his gaze on his hands. The General let out a heavy sigh, "I've lost a lot of people in this war. Some I knew well, some I've hardly known at all. Before this war ends, I'm going to lose a lot more. Who knows? One day I may have Wooley report that you've been killed, Commander." Obi-Wan shook his head sadly. "May the Force prevent such a day."

"You'd be fine, sir," Cody reassured.

Obi-Wan shook his head. He smiled sadly, "If you truly believe that Cody then let me ask you something: where do I go after the end of every battle?"

"To report to the council, sir."

"After that."

"Back to your quarters to rest."

"Correct. But before that, I pull up the list of reported casualties. I look at names, numbers, and any details included. I do this for perhaps an hour before finally succumbing to sleep. My dreams usually consist of dying clones on the nights the lists run especially long." Obi-Wan shook his head, "I regret not knowing many of my own men as well as I should. But you, Cody. You're always there. I can't imagine what I would do if I lost you. For one, I'd lose my closest friend in this kriffing war."

Cody's mouth dropped open. He quickly closed it, "Sir, I'm just a clone."

"We've had this conversation already, Commander. You are not just a clone." Obi-Wan's gaze softened. "Just as Stitch was not just a clone."

Something inside of Cody seemed to crack for a moment. He quickly swallowed it back down looking away. Obi-Wan grabbed Cody's arm and squeezed it. "Commander, I can feel you screaming."

Uh… Cody's brow furrowed in confusion. "Sir?"

Obi-Wan's eyes closed, his face twisting in pain, "The Force. There is pain inside of you that is screaming for release."

"I'm fine, sir," Cody gritted out.

"You and I both know that's a lie," Obi-Wan shook his head. "Cody talk to me. Let me help you like you've helped me so many times."

"I… I can't sir," the man shook his head furiously. "I think if I talk then... I'll just… I can't… I can't."

Obi-Wan frowned, thinking for a moment. "Then don't tell me."

Well. That was easier than Cody expected.

Then again he should have known. Things were never easy when it came to Obi-Wan. The General grabbed Cody's shoulder and forced him to look him in the eyes. "Show me."

"Uh… sir? What are you-?"

Obi-Wan reached up to Cody's scar and pressed his fingers against it. The commander froze.

Cody never touched his scar. He pointed at it when telling one of the many origin stories. Stitch checked it every once in a while for no reason in particular but had never physically touched it. Then again Stitch had been the one to remove the stitches that had held the skin together. He had also been the one to clean and stitch it up. And he had been there when the knife came down, cutting, carving, bleeding, screaming-

Cody was able to register a soft, "Sorry, Cody" before that something inside of him cracked, then shattered into a thousand pieces.

... Why do I do this to my clone boys? They are so precious to me, but I can't help but-

-Torment, torture, and break them into pieces?

I think you've made your point, Padawan. So I am hoping to finish publishing this by the end of January so there is going to be two more updates after this and then, finished! Hooray!

If you enjoyed please favorite, follow, and review. And as always, May the Force be With You!