One Hundred and Eight
Didge grabbed at Whisk's arm as they left the captains office.
"What about Sats?"
Whisk knew what his brother was asking.
"Didge, I don't know ner vod. Listen, we've been given a choice. It's not something I think other units would have the benefit of."
"But,"
"No," Whisk was tired of having to manage Didge and his unrealistic dream of having the youngest vattie back into the fold.
Back under his control.
This time he had to stand firm. "No if's, but's or what's OK?" It's done. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, I can do this time."
Whisk took a stance, Didge looked as though he was about to deck him.
He wanted nothing more than to all be together again, but the relentless pursuit by the sniper where Sats was concerned was exhausting. Whisk could see the disappointment his words had delivered and softened, "and you have to remember, we don't know what the vaccination is for. All we can hope is that he is ok, and with the likes of Chopper on his side, I think he will be."
Didge knew deep down the medic was right, but he would never admit it.
He would never give up on getting the three of them back together.
Like it was on Kamino.
Like it always should have been.
.
"Mind if I come in?"
"Commander! Please." Rex stood and immediately began clearing away the flimsiwork on his desk. Cody removed his helmet and sat down.
"Ah, that's better," he let out as he placed his bucket down. He quickly took in the captain's appearance and the amount of disorder in his office.
"You look more snowed under than a Wampa on Hoth!" He bent down and picked up a cushion that had been hap hazardously flung onto the floor, tousling it gently in his hands before he offered it back to Rex.
"Thanks," the captain replied as he swivelled around and placed it on the shelf behind him.
"What brings you in here Cody?"
"What? A brother needs an excuse to see another?" Cody smiled, but Rex could tell he had an agenda.
Cody never 'just visited,' anyone's office.
"There are certain rumours circulating, and I thought they should be put to rest, once and for all." Cody's tone changed from one or mirth to seriousness.
Rex could feel the anxiety rise; he sat back and attempted to play it cool.
He had never lied to his CO and now wasn't the time to start.
"I always find that rumours are exactly that; rumours," he replied cagily.
Cody smirked and continued.
He had him; for once, he had made the unflappable flap.
"Well," Cody readjusted himself in his seat, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other, "is there anything you would want to talk to me about?" The commander's eyes rose slightly as he waited for an answer.
Fek!
Which part?
The part about the liason with the Commander? No, Cody knew about that disaster.
The chance meeting with Cut Lawquane on Saleucami; failing to report him AWOL would see him thrown in the brigg for sure.
The bit about his general in a secret tryst with the Senator for Naboo? I bet the High Council didn't know that one!
Or maybe that his medic was a recovering Morpha addict that he never reported?
No, it had to be that he had just refused outright to administer a vaccine ordered by the Chancellor himself?
The list was endless and Rex's brain was whirling through the web of deceit he had inadvertently woven for himself.
Collectively, he was in the very least, looking at a court martial. Rex felt backed into a tight corner, he had only ever made decisions on behalf of the 501st.
Always thinking of how it affected his men and whether reporting certain aspects of his command would benefit the war.
Let's face it, HQ seemed to be doing a good job of cocking it up by themselves to this point.
It was a standoff, only they were seated, of sorts. Rex scratched his head and smiled.
"You gonna to throw me a bone here or what?"
"Nope."
Rex began chuckling, shaking his head. "I don't know where to start ner vod."
"I didn't think you would."
.
CC-2224 lived his life the way he commanded the men under him.
He was a regulations man.
He methodically kept to a strict regime that had seen him into the tank only twice for an extended dip during the war.
There was method to his madness.
He adhered to the same routine on a daily basis when stationed back on Triple Zero starting at 0600.
Rosters.
Ordinance.
Armaments.
This was then followed by checking all commanding officers of units on deployment.
Once these were accounted for, he would allow himself a quick break.
Walking to the mess hall would take 3.9 standard minutes. Being in the queue was never a problem, as any men assembled would move aside for the senior ranking officer.
Black with no sweetener.
The return trip would take 4.8 minutes, allowing himself 1.3 standard minutes for any conviviality enroute. By which time his caf would be at precisely the correct temperature to begin immediate drinking.
Any communiqués that had arrived during his 10 minute absence would be swiftly dealt with.
Then the 11am meeting at Republic Head Quarters.
He always had his helmet tucked under his left arm as he walked through the barracks and into the command centre.
This allowed his right arm free to salute men as he continued without breaking stride. He could also, extend a hand to an officer if he was stopped momentarily.
A calorie controlled MRE would follow before he would head back into his office and check the status of all 212th on the injured list.
Then however, came his first deviation.
Bourne out of necessity.
Or loyalty.
'Stupidity more like it,' he would think.
He would then flick through the numbers on the 501st.
Some things just needed to be done.
On many an occasion, his heart rate would jump from 57 beats per minute to 70.
CT-7567 WIA: Saleucami
CT-7567 WIA: Orto Plutonia
CT-7567 MIA: Orto Plutonia
CT-7567 Recovered and repatriated to Resolute
CT-7567 WIA: Naboo
CT-7567 WIA: Dảsos
The list was seemingly endless and it appeared, a certain captain had more lives than a Dire cat.
There was one medical event concerning Rex he didn't discover himself, throwing his orderly existence out of kilter.
Momentarily.
Kenobi and the 212th were enroute to a scrum in the outer rim when he received a personal communiqué from Commander Tano, Rex had been critically injured and was in a medical emergency on board Intrepid.
"Commander Cody."
"Sir," he stood to attention as the blue holovid message sprang to life in his palm.
"Cody, I don't have time. But I thought you might like to know." He watched as she seemed to crumple momentarily, "it's Rex, Cody. He's badly injured and well, we hope he makes it out of surgery."
Cody was glad he had his helmet on and she couldn't see the panic rise, although she must have felt it.
"I'll let you know the minute they tell me anything. Cody? Commander can you hear me?"
The communication was breaking up, her figure began to ripple in amongst the static.
"Copy that Commander. CC-2224 out."
Cody turned to the men standing behind him in the viewing platform, they had all heard the message from Padawan Tano.
Cody cleared his throat and began, "now if you wouldn't mind gentlemen, let's go back over the logistics for getting those AT-AP's down. I don't want any surprises when we hit dirt."
.
Cody wasn't open to breaking the rules slightly himself. He and Rex had been on benders down on level thirteen on many an occasion, albeit mostly after Rex had managed to survive another life threatening event. They had talked about the respective personal lives, to a level, Rex was always acutely aware that Cody was his superior officer.
What annoyed Cody most was that Rex had declined the various offers of commission to Commander of the 501st, siting that one, in the form of a certain young Togrutan, was enough.
"One day you won't be so lucky brother," Cody would say calmly, secretly wishing that Rex would just accept it and be back in HQ more than on the front line.
"They haven't got me yet, and I don't intend on checking out any time soon."
It was frustrating to Cody, but he knew Rex was right, and that he was better placed commanding the men on the field that being stuck behind a desk.
Rex also had a valid point; someone had to keep an eye on Skywalker.
.
Cody was also methodical with respect to his private life.
He had quite ensconced himself into an liaison with a certain cartographer, Nicki Malone. They had met over a star map and had continued a friendship until one day he let his guard down and allowed himself the luxury of something a little more physical.
Then there was Piers.
His illness was instrumental in cementing his relationship with Nick. Again, there was order to their time together.
He would arrive mostly after dinner in his armour. The excitement this would bring to the small boy never failed to make Cody smile; the highlight of his day.
He would then go into detail about some mystical battle he had just fought, recounting in depth the annihilation of all the clankers and spider droids. He excelled in following the boys night time routine of bath, teeth, book, and finally sleep.
He would have made an excellent father.
The obligatory cup of caf and 20 minute chat with Nicki before he would make a move towards the master bedroom.
Armour off and ardour on, they would make love quietly for fear of being overheard.
Even between the sheets Cody would stick to the same modus operandi, pleasuring her before Nicki would bring him to a point. There he would halt proceedings to allow her to sit astride or he would flip her onto her knees. After the passionate crescendo, Cody would immediately get up and use the refresher, 3 standard minutes only, before he would slide in next to her under the covers in his black undershorts. He was then ready to go if his wrist comm called him back to the base.
Every alert, ever the consummate soldier.
.
Rex continued to stare at the more senior ranking officer and slowly shook his head. Cody was in his element, not that he liked to make Rex feel uncomfortable, it's just that it rarely happened.
"Oh OK?" Rex announced, throwing his arms up as a gesture of defeat, "I give up."
Cody sat back satisfied, he uncrossed his leg and leaned forward.
"We're friends aren't we Rex?"
"The very best ner vod," Rex answered truthfully.
"Then when exactly were you going to - "
[beep, beep, beep]
Cody stopped mid-sentence and flicked through the message from his General.
Rex saw his head shake slightly before he stood.
"Kenobi?"
"Yes."
"Assignment?"
"Utapau it appears."
Rex looked at Cody as he placed his helmet neatly under his left arm and extended the right.
"Koy'aci ner vod."
"Til we meet again brother."
Til we meet again.