A/N: I'll have an epilogue after this... Then voila.
The helmet-lamps lit the path ahead. Ropes fell into the chasm, clones repelling down the walls. Anakin had stayed above ground with Rex and several of the others, in case Evelo shut the tear again. Obi-Wan had gone with Jesse, Coric and a group of troopers to find Cody.
It seemed to go on forever. They had no idea how far he had fallen – or where. Well, Obi-Wan remembered very vividly where he had fallen from the surface. But everything looked much different inside of the chasm.
The Jedi jumped from one of the metal peaks, landing precariously on a ledge. It spanned out to several other ledges, and he made his way through the mountain-like course. He landed on the last ledge and rolled nimbly until his feet were beneath him once more. Standing, he ignited his lightsaber, using it to show the way.
He reached out, searching for the life force. There were the clones behind him, who were making their way to his position – Evelo, and another life. He moved onward, starting down a rather steep slope. The planet was chaotic on the inside.
The other men followed. Coric spoke quietly to himself as he meandered down the hill, trying to keep hold of the medical supplies.
They were coming closer. "Here," Obi-Wan spoke up, jumping – and flipping – to reach the bottom of the hill. He landed gracefully, one hand splayed against the ground. He held his saber before him. Coric came to a halt beside him. Obi-Wan led the way once more.
He could smell the faint scent of smoke – and blood. Metallic. He breathed out a long breath even as he walked forward.
Their footsteps bounced off the walls and came back to them. As did any spoken words. Even breaths. The cold feeling tried to return, and he pushed it down. "Do you sense him, sir?"
"Yes. This way."
It would be an even more difficult trip back, though perhaps they could find a faster way out. They probably couldn't make it back up the ledge path with an injured man, at least, not quickly enough. So they would look for another route.
There was a groan in the opening ahead. Obi-Wan sped his pace to a slow jog until he stopped at another tunnel's entrance. He held his lightsaber up, blue eyes scanning the path. He could see a figure pressed up against the wall, an odd orange-golden light surrounding him.
Obi-Wan was the first to reach him, Coric was the second.
The Jedi's blade retracted and he attached the saber to his belt, gloved hands gripping the other man's shoulders. "Cody?" His armor was gone, and the torso of his black suit was torn, sliced by what had most likely been shards of metal. Even in the minimal light – he looked horrible. The skin on his arms was all but shredded, but had evidently stopped bleeding hours ago – brown and red, dried blood caked the limbs. The skin was swollen and red.
Obi-Wan lightly gripped the man's chin, turning his head towards the light. Obi-Wan's expression turned into a concerned frown. A jagged cut ran down over his eye, crimson still trickling down from the wound. "Oh, Cody." The Jedi sighed and shook his head.
"We need to get him out of here, but he should be moved as little as possible, sir."
Obi-Wan didn't reply. Instead he closed his eyes and moved his arms out, palms facing the roof of the tunnel. He called upon the Force, blue light surrounding the shivering, barely-conscious form. Cody gasped in pain, bringing a hand to his face. He covered the injury, blood dripping through his fingers.
Obi-Wan moved his hands, palms now facing out. He began walking forward, keeping Cody above the ground. He frowned in concentration.
He could hear Jesse radioing Anakin, informing him they were coming back, and it would be best to have the ships and the men ready to leave.
Cody let out a surprisingly calm, relieved sigh.
Obi-Wan couldn't help but agree.
"Get me out of here, so I can breathe…" ~ No Resolve, Get Me Out.
"Scream – at the world around you. Fight – for the ones you love. Hate – what they're doing to you. You'll have the power to - scream." ~ Scream, Son of Rust.