Chapter Text
Part One: The Choice
There are legends aplenty, out among the spacelanes. Many are nonsense, of course, products of bored spacers with far too much time on their hands and nothing better to use it for than coming up with ever more dramatic tall tales to regale each other with, once they finally dock somewhere.
But far more have at least some grain of truth in them - the Angels of Iego, for example. Or the cautionary tales of the purrgil.
Some of these tales the Jedi keep particularly close eye on. Because for every dozen tales that are simply a dramatization of an unusual species, there are others that are… more.
Mostly, the Force manifests itself and its will through mortals - Force sensitives. Sometimes, though, there’s an entity so powerful as to be said to embody some aspect of the Force itself.
The Bendu for example - an entity last known to reside on Atollon, who speaks of being the one in the middle, between the light and the dark. It is said that he will not take sides in any conflict, and that those who convince him to break his neutrality might live to regret it - if they live at all.
Or Waylin, a trickster spirit of mysterious paths between the stars. When the spirit is thought to be pleased, spacers have claimed to make hyperspace journeys in a tenth the time, or even travel across the breadth of the galaxy in an instant to find themselves exactly where they need to be. When the spirit is angry… well, not every ship entering hyperspace leaves it - at least in one piece.
Raschek, known as the deal-maker, the oath-keeper. They are said to make deals with anyone who can find them about anything they might wish - but woe to the one who attempts to break such a deal. Woe also to the one who makes such a deal carelessly, as Raschek will carry out their end of bargains precisely to the letter.
Some say that physical embodiments exist even of the Dark and Light sides of the Force themselves, though Madame Nu, when asked, is quick to point out that no substantiated records of such beings exist anywhere in the Temple Archives.
But the galaxy and the Force are vast, so most Jedi figure that while there’s no reason to disbelieve such embodiments of the Force exist, the odds of any specific Jedi running into even one of these beings is vanishingly small. But the Force, as they say, works in mysterious ways.
---
In one universe, as the 212th and 501st prepare for an assault on a Separatist base about a year into the war, the generals notice some outlying listening posts scattered throughout the surrounding hills, all poised to intercept Republic communications. Deeming the cost of trying to take the posts intact far higher than any potential rewards, they order their battalions to destroy each post via long-range artillery.
The battle is unremarkable as battles go. The base is destroyed, the listening posts are destroyed, and three days later the 501st and 212th leave, on to the next battlefield, and very few ever think of this utterly unremarkable planet again.
In another universe, Chancellor Palpatine happens to notice the announcement of the campaign. Always looking for another way to twist the knife and make the war just that little bit more desperate, he gives a grand speech to the Jedi Council about how critical those listening posts are to capture, so that the Republic can turn them around and use them against the Separatists. The Council isn’t convinced, but he’s the Supreme Chancellor and the Supreme Commander of the Republic forces, so ultimately, they don’t have any choice but to agree.
This should be a very small change. It isn’t.
---
Cody has half his attention on the blaster bolts flying around him, and the other half on the comm channel that he and Rex are using to keep in touch with the scouts working to capture the listening posts. This is really the sort of mission that calls for ARCs, but neither the 212th nor the 501st have any assigned to them at the moment, so they’re making due.
Waxer and Boil finish their report on their approach to the listening post they’ve been assigned, and then Fives and Echo report that they’re in position to take theirs.
“Fives, Echo, go ahead,” Rex orders over the comms.
Cody hears a few blaster bolts over the comm channel, barely distinguishable from the ones he’s hearing in person, before Fives reports: “Guards neutralized. Entering the listening post now. No sign of additional hostiles. Echo is pulling the logs from the base computer.” There’s a moment of silence, then Echo yells, “It’s a trap! Pull back! All scouting teams pull back! These posts are rigged to blow!”
Cody relays the order in an instant, and keeps half an ear open as the other scouting teams report falling back just in time. A single moment later explosions rock the hills around the battlefield as every listening post goes up in a massive fireball. Eleven of the twelve teams report in, with varying degrees of burns and bruises but all just far enough away from the explosions to survive.
Fives and Echo are the only team that don’t report back.
Rex keeps his voice even as he orders the rest of the teams to regroup with their battalions, but underneath it, Cody can hear the strain. This is hardly the first time Rex has had to send his men to their deaths, but he’s always had a soft spot for Fives and Echo in particular, and honestly, Cody has too. After rescuing the two of them from Rishi, and failing to save Hevy, Rex has always done his best to take care of them and give them the support and training they need to be the best soldiers they can be. But Cody knows just as well as Rex that no matter how good you are - or someone you love is - that doesn’t guarantee survival.
---
The self-destructing listening stations seem to have been the last major plan of the Seppies, and the battle wraps up shortly thereafter.
Among all the many other aspects of clean-up after a major battle, that means it’s finally safe enough to send a medic team out to the remains of the listening post Fives and Echo were examining. Cody knows it’s hopeless, but for all their sakes’ they have to at least check.
Cody is still waiting to hear back from them when Rex’s voice comes over his comm.
“Cody! The tracking signals in Fives’ and Echo’s armor have come back online! They’re currently moving away from the battlefield.”
Cody hears the hope in Rex’s voice, and answers as gently as he can, “You know it’s probably just scavengers looking to sell some clone armor on the black market.” At the beginning of the war, there had been some thought to making sure all bodies were recovered for the sake of keeping the clones’ armor capabilities secret. But as the war went on (and on and on), such considerations had quickly fallen by the wayside, and now there's a thriving trade in their fallen brothers’ armor and weaponry.
“I know,” Rex answers, and Cody knows he truly does, “but if there’s any chance it’s not….”
“Understood. You’re going to put a squad together?”
There's sheepish silence over the comms for a moment, then Rex answers, “Actually, General Skywalker already heard the report. He wants us all to go.”
Cody sighs, but knows it’s useless to try to argue when General Skywalker gets an idea in his head. So instead of starting with a quiet scouting mission to determine whether there even is anyone to rescue, while the various officers continue with all the necessary elements of cleaning up after a battle, both generals, Cody, Rex, and Kix end up all taking a dropship in the direction the tracking signals are coming from, while only Commander Tano and their various second-in-commands are left to finish the clean-up.
---
Fifteen minutes later they’re approaching the site where the tracking signals have come to rest. They appear to be coming from a sandstone structure that blends into the scrublands around them. High walls surround a courtyard, with what might be a low building inside. Oddball brings the dropship around to a landing by the entrance gates, and the five of them walk through the open gates and into the courtyard.
The first thing Cody notices is the raised platform in the center of the courtyard. On it are Fives and Echo. Cody’s breath catches when he sees them. His HUD is showing them as alive, against all odds, but they’re not looking good. Both of them are chained, wrist and ankle, to poles at their sides, leaving them spread-eagled. Their heads are lolling, and without most of their armor it’s obvious both are unconscious. That’s quite possibly for the best, given the blood absolutely covering them, dripping down their limbs to pool below them. The faint shimmer of a force-field surrounds them.
Beside them is a small table piled with an extremely disturbing assortment of bloody knives, and Cody is abruptly furious.
So is everyone else, and as one they move towards the two youngest clones, General Skywalker already raising his lightsaber to cut them down from their chains.
Then a figure appears out of thin air between them and the two captives, and suddenly not one of them can move a muscle. Each of them takes a moment to push and strain against their sudden, invisible bonds, but it’s no use. Cody can still breathe, and maybe talk, but nothing more than that. From the sounds coming from behind him, Skywalker and Kenobi aren’t having any better luck using any of their Force abilities to escape this hold, either.
“Welcome to my humble abode,” the figure says as they pull down the hood of their cloak to reveal a vaguely humanoid face and blue and yellow striped hair. “I’m pleased you could make it.”
“Who are you?” Skywalker demands, all pent-up fury at seeing his men taken captive and not being able to do anything about it.
“Raschek,” the being replies with a sharp-toothed grin. “Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”
The name doesn’t ring any bells for Cody, but Kenobi sucks in a sharp breath.
“The Deal-Maker,” he answers, voice tinged with shock.
“You do know me!” Raschek responds, delighted. “But it looks like the rest of your merry band do not. Would you care to explain?”
Cody can just barely turn his head far enough to see General Kenobi, frozen as the rest of them. The general can only manage a miniscule nod towards the being holding them as he says, “My apologies if I get anything wrong, and of course please feel free to correct me; we only have legends to go on, and I’m sure you can guess how those can get twisted over the millennia.” Even in these circumstances, Cody can’t help the faint smile at his general, always the consummate negotiator.
Raschek nods regally and motions Kenobi to continue, and so to the rest of them, Kenobi explains, “Raschek, so far as Temple records are aware, is an ancient Force entity, known as both the Deal-Maker and Oath-Keeper. They are known for making deals, as I’m sure you can guess from their title. They keep those deals scrupulously, and ensure that such deals are scrupulously enforced on any other parties as well. While anyone can, of course, claim a name, the description matches and the fact that our Force abilities are entirely useless here is a strong indication that you are the one the legends speak of.”
“Well said!” Raschek praises, but before they can continue, Skywalker interrupts in a fury.
“I don’t care who you are! You’ve taken two of our men captive; now give them back!”
“Ah, ah,” Raschek chides. “I’m hardly going to just give them back, after I went to so much trouble to collect them. But perhaps we can make a deal.”
“What did you have in mind?” Rex asks, with a dangerously level tone.
“Quite simple! I’ll give these two back to you, and even let the rest of you go as well, so long as one of you volunteers to stay and take their place. After all, mortals are such fun to play with.”
“You want one of us to just volunteer to get tortured by you for who knows how long in order for us to get our troopers back?” Skywalker asks incredulously.
“In essence, yes,” Raschek answers with total unconcern.
Skywalker is opening his mouth, no doubt to yell at Raschek more, but Rex preempts him.
“I’ll do it. I’ll take your bargain and trade myself for them, and you’ll give them back to us alive.”
“No!” bursts out of both generals and Kix. Cody wants to join them in their protest, but can’t. Rex has made his decision. And for all that Cody knows full well he’s made it out of love alone, he also knows Rex would have made sure to think through all the ramifications first.
The 501st losing their captain will be a blow, and a bad one, far more than losing a couple of troopers already given up for lost. But every officer in the GAR knows just how precarious their lives are. Any day Rex could get killed in one of Skywalker’s crazy stunts, so just as he’s been trained he’s kept the chain of command clear and firm. Within five minutes of Skywalker returning to base with the news that Rex has been captured, there will be a new acting captain ready to take his place. It’s depressing, in its way, but it’s also how armies are supposed to work - how they need to work.
The fact that Rex is being taken captive rather than killed is both better and worse. It means there’s some hope of rescue, but there’s also a lot of intel locked away in Rex’s brain that any captor might want. In fact, that might actually be Raschek’s goal here: trade a couple of troopers who don’t know that much for a higher-ranked officer who, with enough torture, could potentially be induced to spill all sorts of military secrets.
But there are protocols for when an officer is captured alive, and an entire set of regs listing every code and password that will need to be updated. Other things, like more general GAR operations, can’t be changed in an instant like that. But Cody has to hold out hope that the ARC training Rex received in resisting interrogation will be enough to keep the most critical secrets, and everything else they’ll survive losing.
And truly, no matter what the consequences, there was no chance Rex would see a way to save his little brothers and leave them to suffer instead, no matter what the cost to himself might be.
And then, of course, there’s also the minor detail that if no one takes this bargain, Raschek might just decide to keep all of them, and the odds of any of them being able to prevent that are looking pretty slim right now. Ahsoka’s still free for the moment, but the rescue mission she’ll inevitably try to mount as soon as she realizes they’ve been gone too long isn’t likely to be any more successful than their own attempt.
So Cody doesn’t protest, only quietly mourns the fact that he can’t even give his brother a good-bye hug.
He watches, instead, as Rex is released and walks steadily up the steps to the platform where Fives and Echo are being held. The energy field around Fives vanishes, and Rex steps up to his brother. Without so much as a word or gesture from Raschek, the manacles around Fives’ wrists and ankles open, and Fives collapses into Rex’s waiting arms.
Rex turns, and carries Fives carefully down the steps, then turns to look at Raschek. “Can our medic look at them?”
“Fine, fine,” Raschek waves airily, and Kix is immediately bursting forward to kneel by Fives’ unresponsive body as he pulls out his medkit. “Both of these two will remain unconscious until they are back aboard your ship, but they have no fatal injuries and should recover completely in time even given the treatment options you have available.”
Kix looks like he’s trying to decide between snarling and sighing in relief, but he ends up doing neither and instead just focusing on getting as many bacta patches on Fives as he can.
As Kix works, Rex returns to the platform and retrieves Echo, then lays him down next to Fives on the rough stone of the courtyard pavement.
Then he turns back one last time, carefully not looking at any of the rest of them as he turns, and faces the platform he’s about to be strung up on himself.
“No!” Skywalker yells. “Don’t do it! Get out of here, Rex!”
“No, sir,” Rex answers calmly without turning back. “I made a promise and I don’t think it would go well if I backed out now.”
He hesitates a moment longer, then strips out of his armor and carefully stacks it on the ground. Then he walks with no further hesitation up the steps of the platform and into the spot Fives was just in. One last deep breath, and he widens his stance and raises his arms, and the four manacles latch themselves around each of his limbs. The forcefield goes up around him, and only now Rex does look down and meet their eyes.
Cody wishes he could do something, anything, but all he can do is smile sadly and try to put all his love for his amazing little brother into his eyes. Rex seems to see it, because he smiles back.
Then, without any word or movent or anything else indicating Rex’s torture has begun, Rex’s eyes close, and within moments he’s sobbing, whimpering, then even begging, “No, no, please no!”
Cody has been trained since decanting that he’s not supposed to cry, that it doesn’t do anything. He’s still practically in tears at just how broken his brother’s voice is almost instantly. “Please, no,” he begs as well, so quietly he doubts anyone can hear it outside his bucket. “Don’t make me just leave him here like this.”
Skywalker and Kenobi are rather more forceful: “No! You can’t do this to him!” Their voices blur into the background, though, as Cody instead listens for every hitch of Rex’s breath.
“Fine, fine,” Raschek interrupts after a few moments. “Since you all feel so strongly about it, here’s one more deal for you then. If a second one of you agrees to stay and bear witness to everything that happens to your Captain, then in ten days both Rex and whoever stays with him will be free to go. If no one stays, then let’s just say it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever see your dear Captain again.”
“I’ll do it,” Cody vows, before he even thinks it through. But his own officers can take over for him - forever if need be, and certainly for just ten days. And if Kenobi is right and this Raschek really does keep his promises, well, ten days is still a horrifically long time to get tortured, but at the same time, it’s an end date. It’s a finite length of time, and it’s a vastly better length of time than the weeks, months, or years, Cody was fearing this being was planning to keep Rex. Watching Rex get tortured is not going to be easy either, but it’s still the least he can do for his little brother. If he had realized what Rex was going to do fast enough, he would have volunteered to take Fives’ and Echo’s places instead, but he didn’t, and so if this is all he can do instead, he will.
“All due respect, sir,” Kix breaks in, “shouldn’t it be me? I’m the medic.”
“And this is all worth nothing if Fives and Echo don’t get the treatment they need,” Cody answers steadily. “You can come back with whoever else picks us up in ten days, and we’ll no doubt be glad to have you, but for now, focus on them.” Then a thought strikes him and he turns as much as he can towards Raschek. “When you say we’ll be free to go in ten days, I trust that that promise includes that both of us will still be alive at that point?”
Raschek tips his head in respect and says, “I admire your commitment to clarity, Commander; it shall serve you well. Yes, if you stay to witness the entire ten days then I promise you shall both be alive and in one piece when you leave at the end of it.”
“Right, then I agree to your bargain,” Cody says firmly.
There are a few more token protests from the Jedi, but they all realize this is the only option if they ever want to get Rex back alive. Raschek is powerful enough to hold two Jedi - one of them one of the most powerful Jedi in the entire Order - hostage with no apparent strain. A rescue attempt would likely be suicide, and that’s not something the GAR can afford, especially not for a single clone captain.
And because the rest of them know that as well as Cody does, and because they really do need to get Fives and Echo back to a medbay sooner rather than later, eventually their protests die off. It takes a few more minutes for them to truly give in to the inevitable, minutes Cody spends barely listening to the debate as he instead keeps all his attention focused on the pain in Rex’s voice, but eventually Skywalker, Kenobi, and Cody himself are released from their imprisonment in the Force and are free to move again.
Skywalker and Kenobi both come up to him, clap him on the shoulders, and promise they’ll be back in ten days to get him and Rex off this rock. Kix drops to his knees beside Cody and starts pulling items out of his medpack to leave at Cody’s feet. Cody thanks them all, then watches as Skywalker levitates Fives and Kenobi levitates Echo, and Kix follows them both as they walk towards the gate.
But Cody turns back the other direction, to keep his promise and bear witness to whatever his brother has to endure.