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Cody wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be doing here; given no explanation from Vader other than ‘I know how to make things right’ and ‘don’t you want to experience happiness again?’.
He politely - too politely, given the circumstances - didn’t scathingly tell Vader that he would have had happiness if it wasn’t for the very man offering him a glimpse of it now.
Instead, he had jumped through the swirling green portal - he assumed it was a portal given how they walked through it and ended up in a seemingly different place - with Vader hot on his heels.
Now, he was staring at a holo of his General - of Obi-Wan - a small smile on the man’s face, as if he was pretending to only be slightly amused while really he was on the verge of full laughter. And if this was the whole ‘gift’ Vader had offered, Cody would have been satisfied at seeing his General smile one last time, even if only through a holo.
Of course, that feeling was swept away as soon as it registered who else is in the photo with him. Other people, natborns - excluding perhaps his General, General Koon, and the alter ego of the man beside him - wouldn’t be able to tell exactly who was in the holo; but Cody knew.
Cody knew and it made his gut turn cold as he stared at the Prime , with his arm around Obi-Wan’s shoulders, smirk across his face as Obi-Wan looked at whomever was holding the camera, and the Prime looked heatedly at Obi-Wan.
And there was no disguising the pure… love on the Prime’s face as he looked at the man.
Cody didn’t blame him; he didn’t know if there was a soul alive who had encountered Kenobi and not fallen at least momentarily in love with the thought of him.
He didn’t remember making the conscious decision to pull out his blaster to aim it at the armored figure beside him; but as he stares down the sight of his blaster, it doesn’t surprise him that it came to this. He had always known he should kill the man, or at least try.
He owed his brothers that much at least.
“After all this time you choose now to try and kill me Commander?”
The robotic voice, which sends so many others into a blind panic upon hearing it, soothes him instead; reminds him that this thing in front of him is not the man that Cody grew up alongside.
He is not the man who proudly walked into battle alongside him and his brothers.
Not the man who would demand to go with them on the ground and refused to sit idly by in a ship directing them from above.
Not the man who Rex considered to be a brother and whom Cody began to see as a brother himself, albeit a very frustrating one that was headstrong and rarely followed orders.
He was no longer the man who Cody and Obi-Wan would complain about after battles, with each of their complaints coated with fondness and an underlying current of admiration.
It was easier, with the robotic voice, to remind himself that Vader was not that man.
“Better late than never,” Cody finally responds, voice sharp, arms painfully straight - they both know Cody won’t miss at this range - and Vader raises his arms slowly.
“If you shoot me now, you won’t see your surprise,” Vader says, robotic voice monotone and lacking the emotion and charm that used to flow from him effortlessly during the war.
It was yet again a reminder that this was not the man he once knew.
“I’ve seen enough,” Cody replies, thinking of the holo - the base currently grasped tightly in his other hand - and knowing that Vader somehow put them in some type of alternate reality.
That was the only explanation as to why Obi-Wan and the Prime would be… friendly with each other. To his knowledge they first met on Kamino and the Prime had died days later, surely there hadn’t been enough time for… love to develop between them.
The door slides open and Cody - due to years of training and little else to focus on - is able to assess the threat while still keeping the blaster trained evenly on Vader.
That training is the only thing that keeps his knees from falling out as he greedily takes in the sight of his former General.
Only the man looks different now, a little older - it has been close to ten years since he saw him last - and his eyes don’t hold the warmth that they normally did when he calmly looks Cody over.
Then again, last time Cody saw the man he had ordered him dead - although who knows what Cody did to Obi-Wan in this universe.
Cody could feel a headache forming between his eyes.
“Hello there,” Obi-Wan says, his fake smile brightening his face, even as it makes Cody’s own stomach clench seeing it directed at himself. “Might I inquire as to your presence in my bedroom? It’s not close to my birthday…”
Cody snorts, an ingrained reaction to his General’s need to flirt and be charming with enemies.
It was something Cody never thought he would hear again.
Unexpectedly, Cody can feel tears forming in his eyes and he blinks rapidly. He cannot cry right now; not with Vader present.
“Oh,” Obi-Wan starts, taking a step forward towards Cody with his hands up, “whatever is the matter dear one?”
Before Cody can react, Vader lets out a sound that comes out garbled and distorted by the vocoder. Obi-Wan glances over to the suited man, the first time that he removed his gaze from Cody since he entered the room.
“Do I know you?” Obi-Wan asks Vader, eyes narrowing as he looks the man over. “I can feel your anguish but I do not… oh . But that is not possible…” Obi-Wan trails off and a stare down begins between him and Vader.
Cody stays silent, observing while also keeping his blaster firmly trained on Vader. He isn’t a fool. He knows Vader may seem heavy, bulky, and slow, but he knows just how fast he can move…how quickly he can change everything .
After an undefined amount of time, after Cody’s right arm begins to ache from staying in the same position for so long, Obi-Wan lets out a harsh, tired sigh.
“I feel you Anakin though I do not understand how . I know you cannot be here. What is this?”
Cody guesses the man believes this to be some type of trap as he straightens and glares at Vader.
It hurts to hear Obi-Wan refer to the suited man by that name…it hurts to hear that name at all.
A chime rings throughout the house, startling Cody but not the other inhabitants. He expects Obi-Wan to answer the door - he assumes it is a door bell - but the man resolutely continues to stare at Vader.
“You should go get that old man,” Vader finally says, robotic voice jarring the silence. “Could be important.”
Obi-Wan’s eyes narrow and he takes a step closer, Cody biting his tongue at his automatic warning to not get any closer. He knows the man won’t listen. He never did when it came to his own personal safety.
“You speak as if I know you and yet you refuse to show your face. I know it is some form of you, Anakin. I have never felt a force signature like yours and would never forget it.”
The Prime chooses that moment to enter the room, blaster first, helmet firmly in place. But Cody would recognize that armor and the man’s presence anywhere. No matter the universe.
“What is this?”
Cody is unable to hide the flinch that goes through him at hearing the Prime’s cold, unimpressed voice echo through the room.
How many times had he heard it directed at him; telling him he needed to do better, be better, and be the best - no excuses?
Obi-Wan catches his flinch and directs his gaze to him. “Hmm, I am trying to figure that out. Any lost relatives we should know about?”
“No,” the Prime says quickly, unamused.
“Not even while Arla was…” Obi-Wan trails off but the Prime must understand what he was saying because he gives a sharp shake of his head. “Hmm, interesting. Did you spend any time near Kamino?”
“No. I am not a di’kut . And there are no gaps in my memory,” the Prime says matter-of-factly. “Beskar?” He asks, confusing Cody.
Obi-Wan shakes his head. “No, though it must be some type of blaster resistant material as he is unconcerned by either blaster pointed at him.”
“Do not speak of me as if I am not here,” Vader bites out and Cody realizes they must have been talking about the man’s suit.
Cody slowly lowers his arm as he processes, realizing Vader never moved - not because he knew Cody wouldn’t miss - because he knew it wouldn’t matter.
“Apologies, but you don’t seem to be forthcoming with information and I did happen upon you in my bedroom. Neither of you have offered an explanation…”
Cody can feel the Prime and Obi-Wan staring at him and he ducks his head, looking instead to Vader for guidance on what to do next before he catches himself.
He doesn’t report to this man anymore.
Not here - not with Obi-Wan steps away.
“I think we stepped into an alternate reality…or come from a different universe,” Cody offers, hoping Vader doesn’t decide to choke him to stop him from talking.
The Prime scoffs behind his helmet. “Pull the other one, kid.”
But Obi-Wan, never one to shy away from a mystery, looks intrigued. “How fascinating. Did you leave your universe by choice?”
Cody distantly recognizes the quiet groan from beside him but focuses on Obi-Wan. “I-”
“That is enough,” Vader interrupts, stepping in front of Cody, pushing him from Obi-Wan’s view. The move makes the Prime clear his throat and pointedly aim at a soft part of Vader’s suit.
It doesn’t seem to deter the man, though.
“Take me to Anakin Skywalker,” Vader demands.
Obi-Wan simply holds his arms out. “We don’t have far to go, he is right here.”
“I am not Anakin Skywalker. Take me to him now or you will regret it.”
Never one to be cowed by threats, Obi-Wan continues to hold his arms out patiently.
Vader doesn’t even move before the Prime begins choking, arm shaking as it continues to try and hold the blaster out while his other arm tries to detach an invisible enemy from his throat.
“You’ve made your point,” Obi-Wan says, tone no longer friendly as he folds his arms. The pose is so familiar it makes Cody’s throat burn with emotions he cannot risk dwelling on right now.
The Prime abruptly stops choking and shoots his blaster before one moment and the next, catching Vader off guard as the bolt finds purchase on the man’s unprotected shoulder.
“Jango,” Obi-Wan groans, “go wait outside.”
The Prime scoffs. “And leave you with this psycho who wants Ani? No shot.”
The name makes Vader straighten, all pain forgotten as he redirects his focus on the Prime. “ You know where I can find him?”
An odd twitch of the man’s hands accompanies the man’s words. And that action alone makes Obi-Wan more furious than Cody has seen him.
“Do not try to mind trick him,” Obi-Wan warns, taking a step forward into Vader’s personal space. “We will not comply with your threats, Either speak to us frankly and explain what you need with Anakin, or we will dispose of you. And rest assured, we will do it quickly and efficiently.”
“Are you threatening me , old man?”
Obi-Wan smiles, and it’s the smile that he used to give General Greivous - right before pouncing and making the Kaleesh run for safety. “I am merely explaining the situation you have put yourself in. Do you need clarification or further explanation?”
Cody half expects the Prime to ignore Obi-Wan and begin shooting again but is surprised to see the man remain silent and still.
Something must be happening in the force - kara knows Kenobi and Skywalker used to communicate (argue) through the force enough times for Cody to recognize it, even after all these years.
Eventually Vader nods and follows Obi-Wan as he leads them out of the bedroom and into a traditional sitting room, dug into the middle of the room. Cody had never seen an actual Mandalorian home but had seen enough pictures from the members of the Cuy’val dar during training.
He thinks, as he surveys the room and the little indicators, that perhaps they are in Mandalore; that maybe Mandalore survived in this Universe. Cody hopes so; even though Mandalore never recognized him and his brothers as citizens they were raised Mandalorian and took pride in their culture.
To see it destroyed had been devastating.
Obi-Wan glances at him curiously and he quickly throws his shields up, glancing awkwardly at the Prime, half expecting to be reprimanded.
Instead, the Prime stoically follows behind them, blaster aiming at their backs.
Vader awkwardly sits in a chair across from Obi-Wan, and Cody stares at the rest of the seats, trying to be strategic. From behind him, the Prime snorts and gestures to a chair between Obi-Wan and Vader.
“That one will let you see the door and them without having to turn,” the Prime mutters low enough that only Cody can hear.
Cody refrains from giving the man a grateful look - one helpful comment didn’t erase years worth of fear brought on by the man.
“Great, now that we are comfortable,” Obi-Wan starts, sitting further back in his chair and bringing one ankle to rest on the knee of his opposite leg. “Please explain what you want with Anakin.”
“Our need for him is of none of your concern,” Vader begins, but Obi-Wan cuts him off before he can continue.
“My son is always of my concern,” Obi-Wan interrupts at the same time the Prime says; “Anything you need with our son can be discussed with us.”
Cody doesn’t even try to hide his shock as he looks between the Prime and Obi-Wan and back again.
Their son?
Vader seems equally stunned, judging by the hitch in his robotic breathing.
“Apologies Jango, I got carried away,” Obi-Wan says, smiling softly at the man.
It makes Cody’s skin tingle in a weird way, seeing the affection clearly held between the two of them.
“Anakin Skywalker is your son?” Vader finally asks.
Obi-Wan nods. “Yes. So you can see why we are not quick to disclose his location or other information. Especially not to someone imitating his force signature.”
“And what of his mother?”
Obi-Wan stares at Vader for a moment, eyes assessing, before dipping his head. “Unfortunately Shmi passed not too long after we freed her.”
“How?” Vader hisses out and even with the robotic voice, Cody can hear the anguish behind the words.
Cody pushes away any sympathy he might feel towards the man.
“Bounty hunter,” Obi-Wan starts, holding his hands up when Vader’s gaze whips to the Prime. “ Not Jango. Though it was Jango who helped us discover that it was actually Senator Palpatine of Naboo that was the Master of the Sith we had slain on Naboo. Without him, who knows what terror would have been inflicted upon us.”
Vader stands to his feet suddenly. “Palpatine is dead?”
Obi-Wan blinks up at the man. “Yes, he has been gone for many years…why?”
The only sound in the room was Vader’s jagged breaths.
“Your…son…is he…” Vader trails off, sounding small.
Cody wishes half the people Vader terrorized could hear him now. A scared little boy hearing his master is dead, looking to his former master for comfort.
Obi-Wan must sense something because his gaze goes soft and he gestures for Vader to take his seat again. “I can assure you he is extremely happy. He has a-”
“Kenobi,” the Prime warns.
Obi-Wan ignores him. “He has a wife and a gaggle of children that keep him busy.”
“The Jedi have allowed him to have a wife?”
Obi-Wan tilts his head. “No, I don’t suppose the Jedi would have allowed him to have a wife. But he is no jedi.”
“He left the order?” Vader asks, voice still quiet and small even through the vocoder.
“He was never in the order…” Obi-Wan responds, glancing quickly over to Jango before looking back at Vader. “Dear one, why don’t you take that helmet off so we can speak eye to eye?”
They all hear as Vader’s breathing picks up, the tension building in the room. “I cannot. This helmet…this suit…is the only thing keeping me alive.”
Cody was surprised to hear Vader offer such valuable information, especially while the Prime was still heavily armed.
“What happened to you?”
The question was one that was thrown around many times following the events that led to the rise of the Empire. Few people knew wh/o Vader actually was, and even fewer - none that Cody could find - knew what had happened to the man to require the bulky suit.
Cody wouldn’t deny he was extremely curious to hear the truth behind the suit.
What could have done that to a man who seemed so invincible during the war?
What happened to cause someone who refused to wear armor during dozens of battles, to suddenly walk around in a fully armored suit?
“ You happened,” Vader says, looking right at Obi-Wan.
“ Me ?” Obi-Wan asks, looking affronted.
“You amputated my limbs and left me for dead on the lava banks of Mustafar,” Vader replies and they all watch the horror fill Obi-Wan’s face. “Don’t get too distressed, in your defense, you thought your blows had killed me. You didn’t know that I was left burning .”
No one said anything in the shock of his words. What could be said?
Cody, for all that he had guessed what happened to Vader throughout the years, didn’t feel the surprise that he thought he would. A part of him had known that Obi-Wan had survived Utapau - he had survived much worse throughout the war - and he had known that Obi-Wan would have never let Skywalker reign terror upon the Galaxy without trying to stop him.
“Is he,” Cody starts, but has to clear his throat before he can finish. “Is he still alive?”
He asks Vader, because clearly Obi-Wan is alive here , but he needs to know if he is alive where they come from.
“Yes. Despite your own efforts, Commander. Kenobi still lives. Though he hides like the coward he is,” Vader says, voice biting through the vocoder.
The Prime nonchalantly points his blaster at Cody now, but he barely recognizes it. Instead his mind is a whirl, thinking of Obi-Wan alive somewhere out there in the Galaxy. He must be doing something all while Cody allowed himself to just become another cog in the flawed, corrupt system.
He was suddenly queasy with the realization.
“Is this why you brought me here? You expect me to go back and hunt him down? I won’t do it. You’ll have to kill me,” Cody says calmly.
This isn’t the first time the Empire has tried to dive into his mind and convince him to do something. Though in the past his stubborn mind had allowed him to convince his interrogators that he truly believed Obi-Wan Kenobi to be dead. At his own hands.
The Prime switches his aim back to Vader.
“I am afraid I am lost,” Obi-Wan interrupts, “you cannot be Anakin Skywalker for there is no universe where I would ever harm him.”
Cody had never heard Vader laugh before - the sound eerily robotic - and it was nothing like the infectious laugh of the man Cody once fought beside.
“You didn’t just harm Anakin Skywalker, you killed him . For I am no longer he and am Darth Vader. Look upon what you have done to your apprentice. See all your failures.”
Obi-Wan looks gutted as he sits further back in his chair, practically sinking away from Vader.
“Do not blame him for your actions,” the Prime says, as if he is a parent lecturing a child.
“Aren’t you quite the hypocrite,” Vader says with a laugh, turning to the Prime. “You cloned yourself a million times over all to eradicate the Jedi whom you blamed for the loss of your people instead of acknowledging your own faults.”
“I don’t know what kriffed up stuff happened in your universe but here, none of it happened, so watch your tone.”
And the situation was so fucked up, yet so comical, and the past years were so horrifying, everything in his life was really, but here was Prime and he was lecturing Darth Vader about his tone . Cody began to laugh.
All three sets of eyes were on him but he couldn’t stop.
At some point, around when the laughing turned to full body sobs, Cody felt familiar arms wrap tightly around him, pulling him close into his body as he hummed soothing words into his scalp.
He could count on one hand the amount of times he had been hugged by his General and though sporadic, they were some of his fondest memories.
He would never forget the feeling of being in his arms.
His memories paled in comparison to the real thing as he clung tightly to Obi-Wan and the whispered words of comfort the man offered to him.
Years of tension melted from him as he let himself go, sobbing out apology after apology to the man - though nothing could actually make up for his twisted orders.
“Chips,” Vader says, once Cody has calmed down enough that he is no longer sniffling into Obi-Wan’s shoulder.
“Pardon?” Obi-Wan asks from over Cody’s head.
“There were control chips in all of the clones’ heads. The Emperor called for Order 66 and it took away their free will - made them see the Jedi as traitors.”
Cody feels as if each breath he takes is filled with sharp knives as Vader’s words sink in.
“That is inhumane,” Obi-Wan whispers, horrified.
Vader snorts. “Blame your bounty hunter. He allowed it to happen. All in the name of killing the Jedi.”
“I have no qualms with the Jettise ,” the Prime argues.
“Maybe not here, but in our universe - you did.”
Obi-Wan draws in a breath at Vader’s words. “Did?”
It was hard to tell without seeing the man’s face but Cody is positive Vader smiles as he says; “Yes, the Jango Fett of our universe was slain by Mace Windu. Beheaded during-”
“That is enough.” Obi-Wan’s voice is firm but Cody can feel the slight tremor he gets at Vader’s words.
“Your warning,” the Prime says suddenly. “If you never gave me your warning at Galidraan…”
Obi-Wan stills for a moment before nodding. “Perhaps. Does Galidraan mean anything to you?”
“You forced me to read every report and detail on the ‘catastrophic loss of life’ that occurred due to the Senate failing to do its research before engaging the Jedi. The Fett of our universe caused the destruction of all his people.”
Obi-Wan looks sick in response to Vader. “It is why I left the Order. They refused to let me warn either Master Dooku or the Mand’alor that they were walking into a trap orchestrated by a third party. I took matters into my own hands and once the Mandalorians I helped learned I was essentially homeless I was quickly taken on as a foundling.”
“You’re not a Jedi?” Cody hates how weak his voice sounds and curls in on himself reflexively, not wanting to incite the rage of the Prime.
“No - I was never cut out for it. I have…issues with attachment.”
“And following rules,” the Prime adds lightly.
Cody cannot imagine a world without Obi-Wan Kenobi as a Jedi. Even in his current world, at least he has the memories and the insight from working alongside the Jedi. To have never had even that…it is unfathomable to him.
“If you never became a Jedi then how did you come across Anakin Skywalker?”
Obi-Wan hums, still holding Cody protectively in his embrace. Cody hides any embarrassment he feels into Obi-Wan’s shoulder. He doesn’t know how long he has to enjoy this and he will take as long as he can to absorb the feeling. He doesn’t even care that Vader will undoubtedly use this against him.
“We were hired as mercenaries by the Queen of Naboo when she was having difficulties with the Trade Federation. A Jedi by the name of Qui-Gon Jinn, whom I was familiar with, had custody of Anakin at the time. Unfortunately Qui-Gon became one with the force after dueling with a Sith apprentice…the Jedi Council arrived at Naboo and…well…”
“I adopted him,” Prime cuts in. “The Jetiise thought he was too old to train. Luckily for me, I was married to a force-user who was able to teach himself the skills he needed to survive.”
“You’re giving me too much credit as usual darling, I had lived at the Temple for close to fifteen years before I left. I am no master but I get by.”
Judging by the Prime’s snort, this Obi-Wan must be just as formidable in battle as Cody’s General.
“And then you let his mother die so you can have him for yourself?”
“Jango said the vow before he knew his mother was still alive, yes, but as soon as he found out he went and freed her,” Obi-Wan scolds Vader. “As I said before, Palpatine hired a bounty hunter to kill Shmi. It wasn’t until we investigated and dug deeper that we found out the man was the Sith Master the Jedi were searching for.”
“He didn’t survive the flight to Coruscant,” the Prime offers, and Cody would bet it all that the man was smirking below his helmet.
They spoke so matter-of-factly; to them, Palpatine was some Senator that ended up being a Sith. He wasn’t the Emperor. He wasn’t anything to be feared. To hear he was so easily taken out…that the Empire never came to be, that Cody and the rest of his brothers had never come to fruition…had never existed…
Obi-Wan must have sensed something because he hugs Cody tighter. “I take it Palpatine’s true nature was not discovered in time in your universe?”
“Depends who you ask,” Cody replies and turns his head to look at Vader. “I am sure Vader would be devastated if his master was-”
His words are cut off by an invisible grip and even Obi-Wan’s comforting embrace cannot protect him from Vader’s use of the force.
“Let him go. You won’t like what happens if you don’t,” threatens Prime. “You’re already injured, won’t take much.”
Vader scoffs without releasing Cody. “You know nothing and yet you dare threaten me and all for this…”
Vader trails off and for a moment Cody thinks he might actually die as black begins to cloud his vision.
“Anakin,” Obi-Wan says softly and the grip falters as he takes a step closer to Vader. “I know I cannot apologize for someone else’s actions but you must know that whatever events led to you turning to the darkside were-”
“Shut up. You know nothing old man,” Vader bites out viciously while simultaneously flicking his wrist and sending Cody crashing into a wall. “Enough stalling, I have told you what you have asked; now tell me where Anakin Skywalker is or they will both die.”
At his words Cody feels himself lifted from the ground, still able to breathe though - the same cannot be said for the Prime who is also lifted in the air and held afloat by Vader but is being choked judging by how he scratches at his own throat.
“What could Anakin possibly provide that we cannot?” Obi-Wan questions calmly.
“A second chance,” Vader breathes out.
Obi-Wan sighs. “You have to know that whatever periodical you read - whatever research, theories, or books - they are all just theories. Nothing has been proven.”
“A theory is nothing until it is given a chance to be proven correct,” Vader counters.
“Anakin, you cannot do what you are hoping to do. Padmé will never accept a stranger, nor allow you around the children.”
“She’d never have to know.”
Cody turns his head to see Prime’s face turning an odd color and his attempts at fighting off the invisible threat are weakening considerably.
“You know, deep down, that isn’t true. She would know instantly.Padme is too intelligent to be tricked… I imagine that is one of the reasons you love her so, no matter the universe.”
Cody feels Vader’s grip on him loosen and he looks over to see the Prime is coughing slightly.
“But…I lost everything …I cannot…I don’t…” and as Vader trails off Cody hears something in his voice that takes him back to the war and working alongside General Skywalker. His voice sounds - even through the vocoder - exactly like it did whenever Skywalker thought something horrible had happened to Kenobi, before the General revealed he was still alive and defying circumstances and odds yet again.
“Mesh’la,” croaks the Prime from where he is still hanging in Vader’s force grip. Obi-Wan looks over to him with loving eyes, and it makes Cody’s chest warm to see his General so in love, even if it is directed at someone else.
Because Cody is watching the look being shared between Obi-Wan and the Prime he sees as the Prime’s hand twitches in a move that Cody knows well - because he himself does it - that means he is about to make a move.
“Wait,” Cody yells, as he floats in the air. “If you kill him I’ll never get back. I’ll be stuck here, maybe forever.”
“You really want to go back to whatever gundark pit universe you left?” The Prime’s voice is barely audible, scratchy from being choked twice in such a short amount of time.
Vader hisses and squeezes the force around the Prime. “You cannot kill me if you are already dead.”
Obi-Wan’s lips purse for one moment before a statue of some sort goes careening through the room and connects with Vader’s helmet with a concerningly loud crack. The man crumples down to the ground.
“Is he,” Cody starts as he falls to the ground, Vader’s hold released upon impact with the statue.
“Merely passed out, though we do not have much time. The helmet may not be beskar but it is stronger than standard fare,” Obi-Wan replies before checking on the Prime. “Are you alright darling?”
“It’s nothing.” The Prime waves Obi-Wan off, after smacking their foreheads together in a private moment as Cody hastily averts his gaze.
“Are you sure you want to return back to your universe?” Obi-Wan asks him softly, once him and the Prime are finished doing…whatever.
Cody hesitates but deep down he knows there is no choice, not after what he learned today. “Yes.”
“Good man,” the Prime says to him, taking off his helmet for the first time and giving Cody a look he had only seen the man give to Boba.
“I believe I am missing something,” Obi-Wan points out, looking between Cody and the Prime.
“He cannot stay here for the same reason I could never stay in another universe,” the Prime says, voice layered with enough fondness that it makes Cody blush.
Obi-Wan tilts his head in an all too endearing manner. “And why is that - because of Anakin?”
“No, Mesh’la, because of you ,” the Prime says, brushing hair out of Obi-Wan’s eyes before cupping his face and leaning in. Cody again averts his eyes, not wanting to intrude.
“Oh…are you and me, or your Obi-Wan, uh…” Obi-Wan hesitates, blinking over at Cody while wrapped in the Prime’s arms.
Cody feels his face heat up. “Oh no…um. I only got confirmation that he was alive today. We were in a war, always, and never had the chance.”
“Ah, I see,” Obi-Wan replies but Cody knows the man - or at least his Obi-Wan - enough to recognize the man is curious and about to ask enough questions until he actually does see.
“Looks like we are compatible no matter the universe, mesh’la,” the Prime says in a husky voice that makes Cody wish the ground would open up so he could escape.
Cody decides not to ruin the moment by telling the Prime - Jango, in this universe - that just because they share the same genetics does not mean they are the same person, a sentiment the Prime himself had drilled in their heads.
Instead, he stares at Jango and thinks; is that what he sounds like when he is in love?
It makes his face warm to think how obvious he must have been during the war; how many people knew his ‘deepest darkest secret’? He wouldn’t be surprised if it was as well kept as Skywalker and Amidala’s ‘secret romance’.
Vader groans from where he lies crumpled on the ground, which breaks the moment.
“Well, as much as I wish we could keep you here - at least for a cup of tea - I believe it would be safer for all of us if you returned to your universe,” Obi-Wan states, looking crestfallen and regretful as he looks at Cody. “Just know that no matter what happens, there are few things that I can imagine that would ever stop me from loving Jango. Even if I believed the man tried to kill me.”
This makes Jango roll his eyes and tug Obi-Wan closer to him. “That is why you’ll be the death of me. Too forgiving. Too kind.”
Cody watches them bicker with a smile on his face, his chest warm as he feels hope creep in.
It doesn’t take much to gather Vader in his arms - though the suit is heavy and Cody questions how Vader can fight so nimbly while in it - and remove the strange device from Vader’s pants. There is only one button so it doesn’t take much guesswork to get the device to work, a green portal swirling to confirm Cody hit the right button.
“Thank you,” Cody says to Obi-Wan and Jango. “I am sorry that we disrupted your day, but I can’t say I regret it. I’ve learned so much and-”
He cuts himself off, instead giving the pair a thankful smile and hoping it conveys everything he wants to say but cannot put to words.
“Of course, dear one. You are always welcome here,” Obi-Wan says with a smile. And Cody cannot help but think that Jango is right - the man is too kind.
Jango merely nods tightly to him and he can feel them both watch as Cody stumbles through the portal.
They are back in Vader’s laboratory and Cody pinches himself - something he knows he will be doing a lot in the coming days - to confirm it was real and not just a dream.
He waits until Vader wakes - because it wouldn’t do him any favors if the man dies and he was the last to see him - and goes to leave once the man stands up.
“Commander,” Vader croaks out, voice hoarse, as Cody is moments from reaching the door. “You will report back here in two days’ time.”
“No,” Cody begins to argue. “Whatever you were planning, it won’t happen. They won’t let you get anywhere near Skywalker now that they know you-”
Vader laughs and Cody snaps his mouth shut.
“Surely you don’t think there is only one alternate universe out there Commander? We have infinite options and will spend the rest of time until we find the right one.”
Cody blinks and knows, deep down, that he will kill Vader before he fulfills whatever dastardly plan he has in mind before it can come to fruition.
“And before you get any ideas,” Vader says, hitting a button on his vambrace which lights up the holoprojector in the corner of the room.
A hazy image of three older men, whom Cody quickly recognizes as Rex, Wolffe, and Gregor - how - illuminates the room in a blue glow.
“I know where they are at all times. If anything happens to me, there are strict orders to kill them immediately.”
Cody knows, has always known, that his brothers are willing to be sacrificed for the greater good if it needs to be done. He knows that if given the chance all three would tell him to kill Vader and let them march away.
But Cody hesitates because he doesn’t even know what Vader’s plan is yet and he is not willing to send his brothers to march away if there is another option.
So instead, even though his stomach turns at the thought, he nods. “I’ll be here.”
“Very good Commander.”