Cody rolled over, restless. Sleep evaded him tonight.
He missed the soft snores of his vode. His private quarters granted solitude, but not peace.
He sometimes wondered what his life would've been like if the Kaminoans hadn't selected him to be a field marshal. Did mechanics sleep better at night? He would never know.
He pushed out a long sigh and gave up on sleep.
Thoughts plagued him...
Losing Rex. Finding Rex. The minefield. Barriss. Disobeying orders.
Once simple truths now raised doubts. He questioned the Republic he fought for, his purpose, and the fate of clones when the war ended.
Were they just assets to be discarded?
Cody silenced these treasonous thoughts with sheer will. He would not doubt his duty.
After staring at the ceiling for a few more minutes, he decided a strong cup of caf—or two, or perhaps three—would sort him out. Maybe even a stim or two.
He rinsed off in the shower, using the hydro setting. He carefully performed the series of neck stretches he had practiced repeatedly with Barriss. The tension released from his neck along with some of the stiffness. He intentionally pushed away thoughts of Barriss, keeping memories of her sealed in a tight compartment of his brain, refusing to open it. Whatever had transpired between them belonged in the past.
Dressing quickly in a fresh set of blacks, he scraped the stubble off his chin, and suited up to head over to the Resolute. He considered sending a comm to the flight deck to alert them of his earlier than scheduled 0630 departure but decided against it. A surprise inspection of the night crew could be beneficial.
The troopers snapped to attention when he arrived on deck. His gaze swept over them, noting every detail. A sabaac game, hastily concealed atop a fuel drum, didn't escape his notice.
Cody donned his helmet to hide his expression of amusement. "At ease."
Evo, his designated LAAT pilot, grabbed his helmet and hustled to Cody's side. "Eh, Commander, sir, we weren't expecting you so early—"
"I decided to get a jump on the day," Cody said, stifling a yawn. It was going to be a long day.
"Of course, Commander," Evo acknowledged. "Your ship is prepped and ready to go."
Cody paused to look back at the group of pilots, now trying to shield any evidence of the sabaac game with their bodies. "Hotshot, you should've finished your move. You were about to win."
Laughter erupted from the deck crew and pilots.
Hotshot saluted. "Noted, sir! Enjoy your day of meetings."
Cody flipped the pilot off, his longstanding troopers well aware of his disdain for meetings.
He took the co-pilot's seat, enjoying small talk with Evo on the short flight.
"Commander, there's something my squad has been wanting to ask you," Evo said, eyes on his flying.
"If it's about the still, I already told Waxer we'd turn a blind eye."
"Oh no, it's not that, though thank you. We'll be sure to share the batches. It's… uh… about your artwork."
"My artwork?"
"Your sunburst insignia. We want to add it to our squad armor. You saved us, Commander, when the Republic gave up on us. Your symbol represents loyalty and brotherhood to us. We want to wear more than just the 212th orange, Commander. We want your symbol."
Cody struggled for a moment past the lump in his throat. Loyalty to the Republic should always come first. But, that's not what he said. "I'd be honored."
"Thank you, sir!" Evo's voice beamed. He took off his helmet and grinned. "I'll let my squad know." He then enveloped Cody in a bone-crushing hug before pausing. "Sorry, sir, that's probably not appropriate."
Cody, taken aback by the spontaneous affection, thumped the pilot heartily on the back. "All good. Am I an honorary member of your squad now?"
"That depends– how good are you at flying?"
"Top scores in my batch."
Evo grinned. "Then, I suppose we could allow you in." He focused on a smooth landing.
Cody rose to leave, stopping at the shuttle exit to glance back at Evo. "It's been good talking to you, Evo."
"Likewise, sir!" Evo beamed. "Comm me when you're ready to return." He tossed something to Cody.
It was a carefully wrapped sweet roll, with a carefully scrawled sunburst on the outside. "You knew I'd say yes."
"I was hoping," Evo admitted, still grinning, "but the sweet roll was yours, regardless."
Cody held up the precious gift and nodded to the pilot.
Disembarking, he glanced at his chrono. He was still very early for his meeting. He could probably grab a cup of caf in the mess hall and work on his reports-
"Deck officer told me you were on board," Rex said, intercepting him in the corridor with two steaming cups of caf in hand.
Cody glanced at Rex, already in full armor. "You were already up."
Rex shrugged. "Early riser. Like you. Comes with being in command, I suppose." They walked in silence for a bit, sipping their caf, enjoying the quiet of the ship in the early morning hours. "I was going to check in on my medics."
Cody glanced over at him and cocked up an eyebrow. "Check in on them about what?"
"I'll explain later," Rex promised. He checked his chrono and pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Although,it's still early. I should give them more time to finish up. Come on, I want to show you something."
# # #
Cody stepped into the chamber, his gaze immediately drawn to the vast canvas of stars displayed through the panoramic viewport. "What is this place?" he asked, the nebula's colors reflecting in his curious eyes.
"It's on the schematics as a Jedi training room, but Skywalker calls it a meditation space," Rex explained, his voice echoing slightly in the open room.
Cody frowned, "But why are we here?"
Rex's gaze settled on a distant point. "Skywalker believes meditation could be beneficial for me. Commander Tano's been tasked with guiding me."
Understanding dawned on Cody, his eyebrow arching. "So you've been spending your evenings with Commander Tano. Alone?"
Rex offered a shrug, his expression serious. "Every evening. But it's all professional, Cody. Last thing I need is Skywalker on my case."
"I'd imagine him going for a beheading rather than a scolding," Cody quipped, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile.
"That's reassuring," Rex deadpanned, then dropped to the floor, crossing his legs and closing his eyes with an ease that spoke of practice.
Cody watched him for a beat before mimicking his posture. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the hum of the ship.
"Meditation is about calming the mind," Rex finally said, his voice low and steady, a contrast to his usual commanding tone. "Think of it like training with a blaster; it takes daily practice."
Cody snorted. "Maybe it took you years to learn how to shoot."
Rex's eyes remained closed. "Focus, Cody. Close your eyes."
"You sound like a Jedi," Cody muttered, but a moment later, he sighed and obeyed.
"That's because this practice is good for us, especially commanders. It helps with sleep, with clarity," Rex continued, his words slower now, more measured.
Cody's brow furrowed. "That's exactly my problem. My thoughts, they don't stop."
"Let's try a breathing exercise," Rex suggested, reaching out to gently press Cody's eyelids down. "It helps, trust me."
Cody resisted for a moment before another sigh escaped him, and he surrendered to the guidance. Rex's voice, a deep and rhythmic anchor, led him through the exercise. Cody's last conscious thought was how strangely soothing this Jedi practice was before sleep claimed him.
He awoke to the sound of Rex gearing up, the soft clinks of armor plates a familiar backdrop.
"I'm off to check on the medics. You're welcome to stay," Rex said, a hint of a tease in his voice.
Cody stretched and stood, his movements still sluggish from sleep. "No, I'm coming. A walk sounds good right now."
They made a brief stop at the mess for more caf, the aroma alone doing more to wake Cody than the meditation had. With a half of a sweet roll in hand, Cody felt the weight of the earlier conversation lift. They headed toward the aux medbay, their steps in sync.
Rex finished his pastry, seriousness returning to his features. "Cody, the medics, and the Wolfpack are onto something big. They've been burning the midnight oil on this project."
Cody's stride faltered. "And you're only telling me now?"
Rex gestured to the barely concealed blaster mark on Cody's armor. "You were out of commission, brother. And this... it's a lot."
A twinge of irritation flared in Cody, but he quashed it, focusing on the trust between them. "Alright, let's hear it."
# # #
Cody halted Rex with a firm hand on his shoulder just before they reached the auxiliary medical bay's entrance. "Running clandestine investigations now, are we, Rex? Without any authorization?"
Rex's hand went to the bridge of his nose, pressing as if to stave off an impending headache. "Cody, it's that tone in your voice—this is exactly why I had to find the right moment for this... although I doubt such a moment exists."
"The 'tone' is because you're sidestepping protocol," Cody retorted, his voice a low hiss. He cast a wary glance along the corridor, their isolation granting a modicum of privacy for the confrontation. "We nearly faced a court-martial before, Rex. You should understand the stakes."
Rex closed the distance between them, his stance resolute. "This isn't about regulations. It's about protecting our brothers. Official channels aren't an option—not when we don't know how deep this goes. After Darkknell, I'd think you'd get that."
"What I don't get is why you and Wolffe are risking your men on an investigation that could get us all killed!" Cody couldn't keep the ire out of his voice. How could Rex be so unbelievably reckless?
# # #
"Trigger the chips?" Echo's voice was laced with disbelief as he locked eyes with his brother. "What do you mean by 'trigger' them?"
Fives leaned in, his hands animated as he spoke. "They're designed to suppress certain behaviors. If we can pinpoint which ones—"
"You're not seeing the full picture," Sly cut in, his head shaking in emphasis. "These aren't just 'inhibitor chips' as the Kaminoans labeled them; they're implanted deep within the brain, capable of more than mere suppression."
A skeptical look shadowed Fives' features. "Mind control? That's a stretch. Name one clone who's been—"
His words cut off abruptly, his attention snagged by something only he could perceive. With a tilt of his head, he listened, then held up a hand to Echo. "Wait," he murmured, just as the medbay door swung open to reveal Rex and Cody mid-argument. The tension between the two commanding officers was palpable, more than just a mere disagreement.
Fives regarded them, an eyebrow quirked in a mix of amusement and urgency. "Much as I'd enjoy the show, we don't have the luxury of time. There's much to brief you on." He gestured them in with a nod, his demeanor all business now.
Cody's mood was a storm cloud as he swept his gaze over the group, his glare lingering on Rex before landing on Fives with an intensity that demanded attention. "If what you've got isn't solid," he warned, the clipped tone of his voice brooking no argument, "I will end this whole operation here and now."
# # #