Chapter Text
The Seperatist bombing of Coruscant came as a shock to everyone in the Rebulic, and the waves rocked out into the ranks of troopers all the way on the front lines. Every shiny and their vod’ika was talking about it, and the anger simmering amidst the men was palpable. The 212th and 501st Attack Battalions had been recalled to Coruscant for multiple reasons, mainly to stay close and maintain a modicum of security during the political fallout of the shattered peace accords. It wasn’t uncommon for the two battalions to work together, as they more often than not did in the past, but to pull two organized fighting forces back from the front lines proved how badly things were going in the Senate.
Cody was well aware of how delicate the situation was in the Senate as well as how important their presence was, but being left out in orbit hanging by their shebs when his men could be planetside getting some much needed leave at base, was some kind of bad joke. So close and yet so far. Kriffing politics.
Generals Skywalker and Obi-wan were both there now on jetii business, a debrief of sorts after the encounter in the Teth system. The finer details regarding the necessity of their presence had been vague. So for the time being, the 212th’s orders were watch and wait. Or rather, “babysit the Capital.” To be fair, there were much worse assignments, but that was the problem. Their vod were dying out there while they were playing nanny to the politicians.
As a Marshall Commander of an entire Battalion, Cody was not a hot-tempered man. He was a strategist, and a deadly warrior, but not the kind of man to question orders. Just because he understood the reasoning behind their placement however, didn’t mean he was pleased.
Since they would be stationed here for an undetermined amount of time, it seemed reasonable to focus on routine maintenance, training, and restocking of supplies. The organization of which fell on his shoulders and he’d been occupied with menial tasks for the majority of the day since the General had gone planetside early that morning. Cody had made sure to rotate the responsibilities enough through the ranks that each vod would be able to get some down time during the lull. If they weren’t going to receive any scheduled leave then he would see to it himself. After the failure of the peace talks, the war was presumably even farther from being over, and if he could give each one of his men even a shred of normality, it was worth the effort.
Cody was pouring over another datapad pulled from the impressive pile next to him. He had situated himself in one of the ready rooms adjacent to the bridge. The Commander’s helmet rested close by on the desk, which he unconsciously hunched his shoulders over as he studied one of the rosters. Cody swiped a hand over his face in an attempt to rekindle his focus on the task at hand. It wasn’t hard work, but it was dull. He was grateful at least for the relative quiet, since most of the crew were either busy unloading supplies or catching up on sleep, it had been awhile since he had been interrupted. The majority of the postings had been completed for the next week out already. If he could finish up soon, there would still be time to drill some of the newer recruits before the night cycle started.
As if the galaxy sensed the direction and hope in his thoughts, the door hissed open, revealing a somber looking General. That look never meant anything good. The Jedi’s brows were furrowed in thought, and shoulders were stiff as he walked into the room, doors sliding closed behind him. The Council must have finished with them earlier than expected.
Cody stood and inclined his head slightly, “General.”
Obi-wan waved a hand in assent for the Commander to be at ease “Cody, we have much to discuss.” The Jedi then strode over towards one of the many chairs that ringed the table, seating himself with a tired huff. His eyes had dark circles under them, and his hair was slightly more askew than normal.
Cody took this as his signal to also sit back down, placing the datapad he had been holding into the finished pile. The Council rarely had simple assignments for them, so he was not expecting pleasant news. This was nothing new.
“Sir?” He inquired.
Kenobi sighed again, folding his hands together on the table in front of them, seeming to gather his thoughts. The ever present lines at the corners of his mouth and eyes appeared more pronounced when he was thinking hard. Neither of them were getting any younger, and yet the war raged on, uncaring for their humanity.
Instead of answering, Obi-wan’s attention drifted to the stack of datapads. “I see you’ve found plenty to keep you busy.” He gestured towards the pile with a good natured smirk.
Cody snorted, and the corners of his mouth gave a halfhearted twitch upwards. “Just rescheduled the rotations, nothing drastic.”
“Is it too much to hope that you worked in a bit of downtime for yourself as well?”
“I believe hope is a Jedi’s prerogative, Sir.”
Obi-wan gave a long suffering exhale, and rubbed a hand over his beard, but it was a gesture of mirth rather than frustration.
It faded quickly though, and he caught Cody’s gaze, “As I’m sure you’ve already gathered, we have new orders. Some of the information I am about to share with you, is strictly confidential regarding the order, but I can’t in good conscience keep you in the dark.” Obi-wan twisted his thumbs together, studying the worn durasteel tabletop that separated them.
Cody’s back straightened in anticipation, immediately switching back to focused professionalism. The General sounded hesitant, uncertain. It was unsettling. He felt the need to stop the conversation before it even began, “There’s no need to breach protocol on my account, Sir.”
The Jedi just smiled at him fondly, “I know.”
There were a multitude of objections on the Commander's tongue, but the innate trust Kenobi put in him bit them back, and he found himself nodding in acknowledgment instead.
Obi-wan seemed to take this as acquiescence, “Back during the time that Bothawui was being invaded, I was dispatched on a classified mission into the Unknown Regions. My goal was to retrieve a Sith artifact from the planet Zigoola. It was-” Obi-wan stopped, gaze distant, “-more or less successful.”
Cody was listening intently, there had always been questions surrounding the General’s absence at the time, and his eyes widened slightly at the explanation.
“Because this discovery was credible, as well as insights that Dooku and his associates may have been involved, the Council sent several Jedi undercover into the outer rim territories. The hope was that they could retrieve any other Sith artifacts before the Separatists could get their hands on them in the future. Which could tip the entire war in their favor…” Obi-wan trailed off, tapping the table with a finger distractedly.
The Commander waited patiently. He got the feeling there was much more to the Zigoola mission than was being divulged, but he would accept any information the General was willing to volunteer without interruption.
“The search thus far had unearthed no valuable leads, but about a week ago, one of these operatives was able to provide concrete evidence of Sith activity on a planet that was previously thought uninhabited. The Council called an emergency meeting to discuss options for how to deal with this new threat.” Kenobi paused, and turned to gaze out at Coruscant through the viewport, seeming to struggle with his choice of words.
Cody knew that the General was still censoring the information carefully, which he was certain was for his own protection.
Obi-wan turned back to Cody, and there was a cold calculation in his usually warm expression. “It was decided that myself, and several other members of the Order, would go and if necessary…subdue any active affiliates.”
The news sent a racing chill down Cody’s spine. Despite the General’s calm and sensible choice of words, he knew that the blunt truth was much darker. Kenobi was being sent into the unknown regions to wipe out what sounded like an entire group of possible Sith followers. Obi-wan’s affinity for words served him well, he was able to communicate the severity of the situation without completely breaching protocol.
There were many emotions swirling to the surface in the Commander’s mind. Intense worry for the safety of his General took up most of the space, but fear for the future of the Republic was also there, along with a healthy amount of confusion as well. This going undetected for so long was alarming. It seemed that the jetii were genuinely concerned about the strength of their forces, as they were sending one of their very best Generals on a questionable mission. It was obviously a dire situation.
Cody kept these emotions from being written all over his face due to years of practice, but it was still a close thing. He placed a hand on the top of his helmet, gleaning a small burst of comfort from the familiar plastoid under his palm. “General…”
The General was examining his own clasped hands with an air of determination, no longer meeting Cody’s eyes. “It’s not ideal, but it has to be done.”
“Will you be taking any of the 212th with you?” Then added belatedly, “...Sir?”
Obi-wan shook his head. “I would not risk any of the men on such a venture.”
Cody opened his mouth to retort.
“Including yourself, Cody.”
The Commander’s teeth clacked together as he stopped himself from spewing a few choice comebacks. He inhaled sharply through his nose, choosing his next words very carefully.
“You are one of the greatest assets the Republic has, and they are sending you on what could very well be a suicide mission. At the very least, taking some of the men would give you a greater tactical advantage.” He chose to generally refer to the men and not himself specifically, despite his growing wave of protectiveness.
“The Republic needs the 212th right now. The dissension on Coruscant is strong. And the men don’t just need a Commander, they need you, Cody.” Obi-wan stared him down, knowing full well that Cody didn’t wish to abandon his brothers to anyone else’s command. The General’s somber expression softened slightly though, and he leaned back in his chair after a moment, “I do want you with me…but this is the responsibility of the Jedi to settle on our own.”
It was as much of a concession as Cody could hope for, given the situation. He stifled any further objections as best he could. “Understood, Sir.”
Obi-wan smiled at him again, understanding that he had conceded to the reality of the situation. He didn’t appear to be done though, and tension once again settled across the Jedi’s shoulders, he leaned forward, placing his palms facedown on the table pointedly. “The Council decided that another should be appointed as acting General for the duration of the mission.”
A shock rocked through the Commander. They were already replacing him? Cody was in part unsurprised by the Council’s lack of faith in any clone having full command of a battalion, but the anger was still palpable, and he was sure that the General could sense it. “I think it's a bit early for that, don’t you think, Sir?”
Obi-wan held up a hand in an attempt to placate his anger, if there was anyone who understood Cody’s objections to having another in command, it was him. “I protested enough that they allowed me to select my replacement.”
The Commander fell back into his chair, somewhat relieved by this. He trusted Kenobi completely. If he had personally chosen the new jetii , then Cody would at least hear things out. It was self-explanatory that they would not be removing any of the other active Generals they had previously worked with from their current postings, so Obi-wan had intrigued his curiosity. “And who might that be, Sir?”
“This explanation also comes with a story, hear me out.”
Cody nodded patiently.
Obi-wan sighed, gaze appearing to turn inward, as it did when he was contemplating something long past. “When I was a padawan, my Master and I were on an assignment in the Rutan System. On our way back to Coruscant, my Master detected a presence in the Force, calling out for aid. We followed this signal like a beacon and discovered an abandoned research facility orbiting one of Rutan’s moons. In this facility, we found a Force sensitive child, most likely left there for dead. Qui-gon took it upon himself to bring this child back to the temple. The Council did indeed approve his training, and throughout my years as an apprentice, we worked together many times. He has proven himself time and time again to be dependable in every way.”
The Commander followed the story to its conclusion. “And this is who you chose, General?”
“Yes.”
Cody wouldn’t argue with the General, if he vouched for this man, then it seemed foolish to doubt. In his days as a Commander, he had worked with many Jedi, but he had not once heard the origin story of any Jedi so plainly explained before, despite small bits and pieces of Kenobi and Skywalker’s past which were always questionable considering the amount of gossip they ran through first. He also had a feeling that it was improper for Obi-wan to divulge personal information regarding their soon to be General, so he refrained from any more questions. “I trust your judgment, Sir.”
“Thank you, Cody…there is one more thing I should add though.” Obi-wan ran a hand over his face, his mouth was open as if to speak, but seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts.
“General?’
The Jedi blinked, as if coming back to reality, but there his facial features were relaxed and calm. “Ah yes…well, I feel as though I must warn you that Vaurin has not had much contact for some time. He was one of the operatives sent by the Council to recon Sith activity. Because of this, he’s rather out of touch with the times. You’re no stranger to what working undercover can do to the mind. All I ask is that you exercise patience, luckily that's one of your specialties.” Obi-wan smirked at him.
Cody almost rolled his eyes at Kenobi, but held himself back. He remembered back to the beginning of their first assignments together. It had taken time, but the Commander and General had found their footing. If this jetii was anything like Kenobi, then things should be fine. But Cody definitely had reservations regarding working with someone who had just come back from undercover work. It would be alright if they were not involved in any major tactical decision making, but having them as General of an entire battalion was a different story. He just hoped that being a Jedi would compensate for any communication issues in that respect. “Good to know, Sir. I appreciate you taking the time to explain all of this in detail.”
The General waved a hand. “Of course. It's the least I can do when I’m going to be half a galaxy away.” His expressions sombered though, “I’m truly sorry to be leaving you and the men like this, Cody. If there was another way-”
“-don’t, Sir. I understand. Orders are orders. You have to follow them just as much as any of us.”
The Commander put a stop to any further apologies as quickly as they began. Obi-wan seemed grateful for his understanding in a way that touched Cody’s carefully barricaded heart. The General had never treated him or any of his vod as expendable, he had treated them as equals, like the real men that they were, and he was not about to sit here and listen to him apologize for things he couldn’t control.
“Alright then.” Obi-wan acknowledged quietly, but there was a faint smile on the corners of his lips. He then nodded, as if to himself. It was obviously difficult for him to be leaving the battalion in someone else's hands, no matter how much he trusted this other Jedi. Obi-wan had proven himself to be just as protective of his brothers as Cody, putting his life on the line for them time and time again.
Cody attempted to pull both of their thoughts away from this topic, “When do you ship out, Sir?”
“Tomorrow. I’m going to be here to introduce you to Vaurin, make sure things are in order before we depart.”
“Well, General, that means we have a bit of time. Have you eaten yet?”
Obi-wan smiled at him, and this time it was bright and warm like his usual self. “Can’t say I have.”
“Right then, to the mess it is. C’mon, Sir.” Cody grabbed his helmet and stood. He was going to do everything in his power to give the General the best sendoff he could. In times like this, where you never knew when or if you would see your comrades again, you had to make the most of your days or even hours together. Despite their difference in rank, Cody considered Obi-wan a dear friend.
Kenobi stood as well, and they both made their way out of the ready room. If there was one thing Cody was absolutely certain of, it was that the General would kick the living sithspit out of their enemies. Sith or otherwise. But as any good soldier, that never happened on an empty stomach.
oooooooooo
Despite Cody’s obvious attempts to diminish the severity of the news that he had shared, Obi-wan knew that the Commander was deeply worried about this assignment. He could sense it in the Force, for one. A quiet, yet incredibly strong will to protect. Coupled with concern, and subdued anger at the separation they were also going to face. Wrapped together in the steady presence of his Commander, it came as a comfort that Obi-wan was incredibly grateful for. Many long nights and battles together had bonded them as comrades. Despite Obi-wan’s careful guards against attachment, Cody was one of the few that remained close to that boundary, just like Anakin. This was hardly the first disturbing discovery they had faced, or the most dangerous mission, but it was still weighing heavy on his mind, and Cody seemed to sense that.
They had gone to the mess hall, enjoyed a companionable meal together, along with a few of the other men that had been there as well. It was filled with relaxed banter, and the retelling of stories that the newer troops had yet to hear recounted. There would always be a respect for rank, but when they weren't going over orders or planning strategy, he felt comfortable speaking with Cody or any of the men on equal footing, it came so naturally. It hadn’t taken long as the 212th’s General, for him to both sense and hear the difference in each of the men’s personalities. They were truly unique from one another, there was no doubt they were more than machines made for war. It became more and more abhorrent to him each passing day, that the Republic could see fit to sacrifice these incredible individuals like nerf to the slaughter. All in the name of peace.
When they had been called back to Coruscant, Obi-wan had expected to meet with the Council, but he was not even close to being prepared for news of a Sith faction. Nor was he expecting the findings to be presented by Vaurin.
If he hadn’t already been seated at the time, he would have needed to be very quickly. Perks of being on the Council-you get your own chair.
“I was reconning a remote star base, more like a port for outer rim smugglers passing by, I chatted up a few patrons at the cantina there, and discovered they were on a supply run to a nearby system they were calling Exogol. They had been paid handsomely to carry a shipment of medical supplies to what was supposedly an uninhabited planet. Their instructions were to unload the supplies at the coordinates provided, and then they would be wired the other half of their credits. These smugglers had already been paid the first portion in advance.
For the next two days, I tracked them. Eventually we arrived at what appeared to be a desert planet, there were no intelligent life signs on the scanners. I landed nearby, taking careful measures to conceal my presence in the Force. After watching them unload the supplies, which was a much larger shipment than I had been led to believe, I waited for whoever would come to collect them.
Around half a day later, a few transports came from the north. The convoy was mostly cargo speeders. And the drivers were droids. They loaded the supplies and took off back towards the original direction. I could sense something dark on the surface of this planet, something unnatural, almost calling out to me, so I stowed aboard one of the transports.
It took until nightfall to reach our destination, and I waited until the ships had been left unattended to leave the compartment I had been concealing myself in. They were parked in a large hangar bay, so I made my way into the other part of the facility through the ventilation shafts. All of the chambers I saw at first seemed to be part of a large medical wing, but after some time, I discovered what could only be described as a training wing or indoor drill ground…the Force had grown murky around me, almost…oppressive. As if something was trying to flatten me to the ground. And that’s when I heard the sound…a duel, a lightsaber duel. As you know Masters, there is no other sound quite like it.
I followed this sound to an antechamber. So far I had not encountered anything except droids, but in this room, I found myself watching pairs of people sparring, ten pairs to be precise.
It seemed relatively harmless at first. Just soldiers of some kind training with practice staff…but that was before I caught sight of the instructors at the head of the group. It was then that I felt a surge in the Force, undeniably dark side channeling. It seemed to be coming from the entire group, and it was suffocatingly powerful.
At the head of the group were two individuals who were also sparring with one another…both of them-wielding crimson lightsabers. They were not inexperienced, their skill was easily that equal to the rank of Jedi Knight. All of them, even the students…were channeling the dark side of the Force.
I realize this sounds inconceivable, but I swear to you, Masters, on the Force. This is the truth.”
Yoda’s voice cut through the long silence that followed. “Young Vaurin, seen were you?”
“No Master. After encountering these acolytes, I retreated back to the hanger bay. I was convinced that if I lingered, they would sense my presence. They were not amateurs. I chose to return to my ship on foot. It took a full day's travel to get back. As soon as I was out of orbit, I plotted an indirect course back to Coruscant, to conceal myself even further from detection. I am certain that I was not tracked.”
Mace then questioned, “From what you were able to observe and sense in the Force, could you estimate their numbers?”
Vaurin hesitated, “...there were twelve pairs total in the training room. But due to the sheer size of the facility, they could easily house over a hundred comfortably. I did not however get the idea that the facility was fully operational. There was construction taking place in the medical wing, and all of the bedchambers that I passed were empty.”
Adi’s small holographic form interjected, “For this to remain hidden from us for so long would imply that our perception of the Force has been clouded again, as it was with the rise of Maul and Dooku.”
“This could very well be a secretive project of Dooku himself.” The hologram of Plo added.
Despite the fact that he was not to be involved in the decision making process, Anakin spoke up, “If Dooku is amassing a Sith army, then we need to act fast. Were you able to gather any other intelligence besides Sith weaponry?” There was an air of disdain in his voice, obviously aimed at Vaurin.
“Wise it was, for Young Vaurin to retreat when he did. Risk revealing our knowledge of this development, he could not.” Yoda chided.
Vaurin replied though, seemingly unphased, “There were no Seperatist ships, weaponry, or droids. From what I was able to observe briefly, there is no connection. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t one with Dooku. A Master would need to be present to guide their training.”
Obi-wan felt a cold chill seeping into his bones. “There is another way.”
Yoda’s eyes widened, “The presence of another Holocron, you propose, Master Obi-wan?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Hmm.” Yoda acknowledged, deep in thought.
Mace drew their attention back, “Obi-wan, please give us a detailed account of your mission to Zigoola.”
After recounting his experience on Zigoola, the Council had voted in favor of sending a team to Exegol, which he had been asked to lead. Tensions were high. The Rest of the Council members had already adjourned, but Yoda and Mace stayed behind, signaling Obi-wan to remain seated.
Mace spoke up first, “For the time being, another will be appointed as General of the 212th. We can’t afford to have an entire battalion away from the front lines much longer.”
“Commander Cody is more than capable of leading the 212th, Master.” He had found the objection slipping out without any forethought.
“As of yet in this war, we have not assigned a clone as acting General. To be taking a double risk in your absence is unnecessary.” Mace remained firm.
“Then at the very least, allow me to select my replacement. Masters, a trust has been forged between me and the men, I feel it would be best if I had some say in this assignment.”
“Fond you have grown of them, Master Kenobi. Strong the bond between you is.” Yoda chortled in amusement at Obi-wan’s fierce objection.
“Very well, who do you wish to recommend?” Mace had softened slightly as Yoda’s levity.
He searched his feelings, and found the choice was easy, “Since I do not believe it is your intention to send him back to Exegol, I suggest Vaurin.”
“Hmm…young he still is, Obi-wan. Certain of this, are you?”
“I’d trust him with my life, Master Yoda.”
Mace seemed to have less objections, “It would be good for him to take a more active role in the war effort. I have concerns for his state of mind if he were to continue investigations in the Outer Rim. Vaurin’s presence in the force has weakened considerably over the past few years.”
“Then acting General, he will be.” Yoda agreed.
“Thank you, Masters.”
Obi-wan was in the middle of fiddling with his new robes, replaying the memory in his head, when he received the comm that Vaurin would be arriving in hangar bay H-3. He had called it an early night, wanting to get as much sleep as he could before their departure for Exogol. When he had woken, civilian robes had already been delivered and left at the door to his quarters. They would be traveling in the guise of smugglers until they reached their destination. The gray tunic fit relatively well, but he found the vest which went over it to be rather tight for his own liking. The Jedi had grown very accustomed to the traditional robes and to be fair, was not overly fond of change, despite how often the Force decided to fling it into his life on a daily basis. But one could only ask for so much.
Luckily, the inside of the vest had a pocket that could conceal his lightsaber, whoever at the Temple selected these clothes, had the wherewithal to at least do that. The ship would have everything they needed, and as most Jedi, Obi-wan had no personal effects. So without any further fussing, he started making his way to the hangar bay. He couldn’t help himself from smoothing his hair too much in anticipation. Obi-wan hadn’t gotten the chance to talk with Vaurin outside of the Council meeting, and he was certain the other Jedi would have a few choice words about his sudden appointment to “acting” General. He smiled to himself at that.
He was fond of Vaurin in the way an older brother was for his sibling. It wasn’t the same as with Anakin, there was always an expectation to mentor, to guide with his former padawan. With Vaurin, they were simply fellow Jedi, no expectations. Over the years, it had been less and less manageable for them to spend any time together between assignments, but Obi-wan knew that time would have little effect on their relationship.
It was true that Vaurin was still young, in comparison to Obi-wan, who was in his mid-thirties at this point. But he was still a full-fledged Jedi Knight, and if there was one thing age brought, it was the understanding that time mattered little in the grand scope of things.
When he and Qui-gon had first found Vaurin, he was a starving wisp of a child. Ferocious in his anger, and ready to bite the fingers off of just about anyone that got near him. They’d searched the majority of the genetic research station for close to half a day, Obi-wan had wanted to give up, thinking his Master was on one of his wild pelikki chases again. But when they reached the galley of the station, they discovered an enraged little Vaurin in a tattered med gown, trying his very best to open a ration tin with his teeth to no avail.
The look of unadulterated fear, anger, and determination in those wide green eyes would be forever burned into Obi-wan’s memory.
The “soon to not be” General found himself already outside the hangar bay, feet having been guided by muscle memory. He vaguely wondered how many men he passed in the hallways without realizing. The doors hissed open, revealing a wide stretch of empty durasteel.
Hangar H-3 was significantly less full than the last time he had been here. There were still a decent number of gunships on the far side of the bay, but at least half the pads were empty, presumably leaving room for any incoming craft. Obi-wan, luckily, was spared the logistics of these arrangements by his overly competent men.
Glancing right, Obi-wan quickly spotted his Commander standing close to the hangar wall, he made his way over in a few quick strides.
Closer now, Obi-wan realized that Cody was accompanied by a rather out of place looking Rex. They both spun around looking rather flustered by his sudden appearance.
“Commander, and Captain?” He nodded to each of them respectively. “Something wrong?” There was no reason for the Captain to be present, unless new orders were issued that the Jedi had missed somehow.
Cody shuffled slightly on his feet, a habit Obi-wan had come to recognize as organized anxiety. Both officers had their helmets off and under their arms, but their facial expressions were schooled neutrally. They looked at one another for a brief moment, then Cody spoke up, “Captain Rex decided to pay us an unscheduled visit, General. I was not aware he was coming. Since the 501st is stationed with us, I think he thought it would be a good time to…discuss future strategies.” Cody ground out the unscheduled part between his teeth, clearly frustrated by the very minor breach in protocol.
So that was it. Rex was paying Cody a surprise visit. It could be said that surprises were, in fact, the Commander’s least favorite thing in the galaxy.
Obi-wan stared them both down for a moment, eyebrows furrowing. Both officers looked as if they’d gotten caught playing Sabaac while on duty. He played the stiff General for as long as he could hold the facade and then reverted back to barely stifled laughter.
“Gentleman, far be it from me to keep you from spending what chances you have together.”
Rex let out a barely concealed sigh of relief, Cody narrowed his eyes at the Captain and they seemed to be embroiled in a nonverbal argument with one another.
“I think you both know me better than that by now, don’t you?” Obi-wan snorted at them both.
Rex grinned, “Affirmative, General. The Commander's just got a gundark in his throat because of the change in command.” Rex had always been more forward than Cody in speaking his mind.
Obi-wan turned to the Commander, eyeing him dubiously, “Planning ‘future strategies,’ Cody? Come now, don’t be absurd.”
Cody just sighed, and it seemed like a genuine concession. “Didn’t want it to interrupt our introduction with the acting General, Sir.”
“Ah, no need for concern. Vaurin is hardly the formal type. In fact, you’ll probably have your work cut out for you in that respect, Commander.” It was not an exaggeration, the other Jedi was not known for his adherence to tradition, much less SOP.
Cody looked as if he wanted to turn around and walk right out of the hangar. The apprehension poured off of him in waves, radiating out into the Force like a lake of its own making.
Rex cut through Cody’s silence with casual ease, “You’ll have your work cut out for you then!’ He slapped a hand on Cody’s armor plated back.
This seemed to relax the Commander, enough for him to put a hand to his temples in exasperation. “Captain, I will happily wring your neck after all this.” He turned slowly to Rex with an ominous smirk. “For now-shut your trap.”
Obi-wan couldn’t help but smile at the two of them. Despite the Commander’s facade of rage, he knew from what emotions could be sensed in the Force, that Cody was relieved to have Rex with him. The two were closer than just comrades. They were brothers. Brothers that got to see each other far too little. Leave it to Rex to find the time though. Something Cody would never allow himself to do, and that’s why the Captain made the decision for him.
Rex bumped shoulders with the Commander and shielded a remark into Cody’s ear with a hand. Obi-wan was able to hear it well enough though.
“You can try, Al’verde .”
Cody elbowed him in the gut gracefully then stepped forward, clearing his throat. Changing the subject he moved over to Obi-wan and seemed to give him a once over. “You received the shipment from the Temple then. Is there anything else you’ll be needing, General?”
The Jedi found himself rolling his shoulders, trying to get used to the tightness of the vest again after having his attention drawn back to the attire. “Thank you, Cody. But no, I have everything I’ll be needing.”
Rex chimed in, “What are you smuggling, General?” Already having guessed the point of the getup.
“Don’t answer that, Sir.” Cody intervened.
Obi-wan stroked his beard in contemplation and raised an eyebrow. “Overly curious troopers, Captain.”
Rex paled. “I’m claustrophobic, Sir…”
“Time to face your fears, Captain.” Cody interjected with feigned indifference.
Obi-wan was about to add a follow up, when he heard the soft rumbling of engines across the hangar. Glancing over his shoulder, he caught sight of a Temple shuttlecraft coasting through the magnetic shields.
“Well this bodes well.” The Jedi grinned.
“Sir?’ Cody inquired, also now watching the craft as it slowly descended onto an empty pad not far from them.
“He’s on time.” Obi-wan supplied, with a tap to his wrist that did not in fact have a chrono on it.
The Commander glared at him with chagrin.
Rex choked on a laugh, but pulled himself together at the last minute. He coughed a few times, then straightened, slipping back into professional mode along with Cody, who had also gathered himself. They were once again the perfect image of trained soldiers.
Obi-wan felt his stomach twist slightly. They would never get to live normal lives, even if the war ended, as of now, the clones did not have the same rights as a ‘nat-borns.’ Watching them suppress their own humanity, their emotions, was painful. It would never get easier to watch or feel. And Obi-wan hoped that it never did, because that would mean he had become accustomed to it. Which he refused to do.
The shuttle had settled on the pad and the boarding ramp was being lowered. Obi-wan felt a surge of anticipation, now that he was looking for it, he could sense Vaurin’s subtle presence in the Force. It smoldered with a soft orange glow, like a slow burning cone of incense. It was not that his fellow Jedi was any less skilled, more like he preferred to remain hidden. So his signature in the Force most often maintained the earnestness of a lightly stoked flame, not too bright, just enough to remain warm. Vaurin’s temperament was not unlike that flame, gentle, yet intense.
Obi-wan began making his way over to the shuttle, Cody and Rex falling into step a few paces behind. Both officers had relatively blank expressions, obviously not sure what to expect from this new Jedi, so they remained carefully guarded. Obi-wan knew that Cody at least trusted his judgment, the Captain as well, but not in the same way he probably trusted Anakin. That was just the way of things, one put their faith in those they fought side by side with the most. It was no different with the clones than the Jedi. Fighting alongside someone never failed to reveal their true nature. He had found that to be true with Vaurin as well.
If he could use only a single descriptor for Vaurin’s fighting style, it would be fiercely protective . Cody and Vaurin were at even stakes in that regard, Obi-wan anticipated them vying for ownership of that role in the 212th. It was a pity he wouldn’t be around to watch it play out. The antics would no doubt be entertaining.
When he reached the end of the boarding ramp, Obi-wan took up a pose with his arms crossed, and proceeded to tap his foot in time with a silent melody. If he didn’t give the younger Jedi at least a bit of trouble then what was he even here for?
Only a moment later, Vaurin appeared at the top of the ramp. He stopped short when he caught sight of Obi-wan’s impatient stance. The other Jedi blinked a few times in confusion, but proceeded the rest of the way down into the hangar, stopping in front of Obi-wan. Despite the show of restlessness Obi-wan was putting on, the younger Jedi appeared relaxed and unphased. He was dressed in a loose-fitting black cargo suit lined with a multitude of pockets that Obi-wan was certain must be filled with all sorts of trivial odds and ends. His lightsaber was holstered on a wide leather belt along with the usal compact blaster at the hip, that he always insisted on carrying. It still made the older Jedi want to roll his eyes every time he saw it.
Vaurin glanced down at Obi-wan’s still tapping foot calmly, then cocked his head to the side. “I think it's you that needs a new chrono.”
“Now is that anyway to greet your General?” Obi-wan couldn’t help but chide, a grin unconsciously bursting through his ploy.
Vaurin gave a lopsided salute, then replied easily “Reporting for duty, General Kenobi.” A small smile creasing the corners of his mouth.
Obi-wan broke their purported ranks with a chuckle, “At ease, my friend.” He uncrossed his arms and reached out, laying a hand on Vaurin’s shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. “So good to see you again.”
Vaurin mirrored the action, placing his opposite hand on Obi-wan’s shoulder. He met the older Jedi’s gaze, and there was genuine happiness there. “Outside the blasted Council chambers this time.” He huffed out quietly.
Obi-wan snorted in agreement. “Indeed.”
They both took a moment to just stand there in mutual appreciation of the other's presence. Vaurin didn’t appear to have aged much, the youthful brightness was still there in his cheeks and absurdly green eyes. But there was an air of concealed exhaustion as well. Darkened circles were visible under his eyes even with his tawny skin tone. And this tiredness was evident even more in the shaggy jet mess of hair.
Obi-wan sighed and pulled back, shaking his head in disapproval. “You look exhausted.”
Vaurin smiled kindly back at him, “So do you.”
He was probably right. The older Jedi brushed a hand across his face, “It’s the beard.”
“That’s fair.” Vaurin agreed amicably.
Throughout this exchange, Cody and Rex had waited patiently off to the side, keeping their attention focused on nowhere in particular in an attempt to give the two Jedi a moment to greet one another.
Obi-wan turned back to them, placing a hand on Vaurin’s back and guiding him over to the two officers. “Allow me to introduce Marshal Commander Cody, and Captain Rex of the 501st.”
Both men saluted impeccably, “General.” They acknowledged in unison.
Vaurin dipped his head at them both with a careful smile on his face. “Good to meet you both.”
It was obvious to Obi-wan that Vaurin was uncomfortable with the formalities, he would never choose to be anyone’s superior if he had a choice. It was because of this that Vaurin’s next action did not surprise Obi-wan in the slightest.
The younger Jedi stepped up to Cody and extended a hand. The Force was full of uncertainty around him, but the gesture did not lack confidence.
The Commander stared at the hand for a moment, then seemed to decide it was not a test and reached out to give Vaurin’s hand a firm shake.
“...Cody…” The Jedi seemed to be reiterating the name to himself as he shook the Commander’s hand. Cody was radiating surprise out into the force like a beacon, despite his neutral expression.
Vaurin then repeated the same action with the Captain, “...and Rex.”
Rex did not attempt to hide his surprise, it was written clearly on his face as if someone had slapped him. He shook the new General’s hand as if his life depended on it.
After releasing Rex’s hand, Vaurin stepped back, meeting both officer’s eyes in turn, “Look, I’m going to be completely honest with you. I don’t have the experience for this position. I’m just here to be of service in any way that I can, so I’ll follow your lead.” The sincerity in his voice was compelling.
Obi-wan could tell that Cody was absorbing all of this intently, since this information was mostly meant for him as second in command of the 212th.
Leave it to Vaurin to break the ice, after not even five blasted minutes on board. Obi-wan felt immensely reassured that he had made the right decision.
Rex spoke up, “The Commander will take good care of you, General.” He gave a grin over at Cody, a look of mischief in his eyes. It seemed that Vaurin’s words had been enough for Rex to relax almost immediately around the new officer.
Cody scowled at Rex for a moment, before turning back to Vaurin with a complex look on his face. There was a mix of hesitation and appreciation there.
Before Cody could speak though, Vaurin added, “There’s just one thing that I have to ask…”
Finding his voice again, the Commander queried, “Sir?”
“Promise you’ll tell me if I’m kriffing up.”
And that actually almost got Cody to smile, “That I can do, Sir.”