Redemption

Regret

I overlooked the crystal clear pools. Cliffs surrounded us. Smoke wafted from the cannon aimed overhead. My arm was still outstretched, giving the order to fire. What had I done? My body shook as the pools splashed at the impact of two figures. The droplets spinning in the sunlight dazzled at my betrayal. My commander. My general.

My feet started running. I ripped off my helmet and tore it aside. I leaped into the first pool, ignoring the stinging warmth of the hot springs. My armor dragged me down towards the darkness of the first pool. I spread my limbs and crawled my way to the surface. My face broke out of the water and I gasped for breath. A scream choked out, "GENERAL!"

There were two splashes behind me from other troopers. I continued to swim forward desperately. My eyes scanning the surface of the water, hoping. Sturdy arms wrapped around my shoulders, hugging me close, I tried to yank away. I needed to get there, to save him. Boil gently said behind me, "Sir. He is gone."

I struggled against the arms chaining my body down, "No..." I whimpered. My throat clamped, threatening to strangle me. He couldn't be gone. He just couldn't. Boil whispered mournfully, "Sir. He's gone."

Breathing was hard and ragged. My body went limp. Frozen in the terror of what I had just done.

He couldn't be gone.

My brothers dragged my slumped body back to shore. How could I? I need to scream, to sobb. I would die for Kenobi, but I-- a ripping pain broke through my soul. He was gone because of my order. I- by my -- pain seared through my body. I screamed out as my body spasmed all over. Fire and ice roared from the side of my head. An electric knife slashed from my head to every muscle fiber in my body. What was happening? The taste of iron filled my mouth. My body flopped uncontrollably. I heard a faint cry for a medic, then everything went dark.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hallway after hallway Cody walked. Grime and foul odors filled every corner of the bottom of Coruscant. Just as well. Cody slipped into a small room. A counter and a door were near the back wall. A grubby ragged Kubaz sat behind the counter. Cody glanced around. No one else, no droids, and no cameras. He flipped off his hood, "I have an appointment."

The Kubaz chuckled, "Oh my. Yes, I'm sure you do."

He swung the chair back near the door and banged on it, "Another one is here. Chip removement if I had to guess."

Cody's eyes widened. Of course. Many of his brothers had to know about the chips now. He only figured it out after that.... No. Stop thinking about it. Rex had told him what happened to Fives. It didn't make him suspicious enough back then. It was too late now, but he had to get the chip out before anything else happened.

Another Kubaz stepped out of the door and crooned, "Brother! Mind your manners. How many times do I have to tell you NOT to speak about our other patients?"

The first Kubaz shrugged, "What? Was that something I wasn't supposed to say?"

The second Kubaz shook his head, "Your impossible."

Cody cleared his throat. The second one looked up, "Ah yes. Come in. We will get the procedure done quickly."

Cody started to follow him in, but hesitated by the first Kubaz. He flipped an extra coin to the Kubaz, "That is for keeping your mouth shut next time. And if you don't." Cody leaned in, tapped his gun and growled, "I will find you."

The Kubaz gulped, nodded, and with a flash, the coin disappeared.

Cody sighed, "Good. Let's get this over with."