Cejanr (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

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Ahsoka turned over and raised herself up on her elbow.

"What's wrong?" She asked softly, her eyes seeming to glow slightly in the dim light. The light faded after a second. Huh. So it wasn't just him.

"I... I'm not sure. Stay here." He said, glancing over his shoulder as he stuffed his feet into his shoes.

He made his way cautiously down the stairs, pausing at the bottom and checking the hidden drawer where he kept his blasters.

One of them was missing.

***

Rex's blood ran cold. He reached out a second time. Cody wasn't in his room. He ran up there anyways, throwing the door open and looking around. Nothing. His cane was leaning on the bedpost. Blankets were a mess. No Cody.

Panic began to set in. Had they taken him? Who was they? Where was his other blaster? Did Cody take it? He didn't hear any blaster fire.

He rushed to the door, trying to be quiet so it wouldn't scare Ahsoka. He opened the front door and looked around.

Nothing. Not even a breeze. Then a sound. The soft snapping of a branch to his right. It was heavier than an animal, that he knew even if his tracking skills were lacking. He followed the sound as best as he could, using the force to give him an idea of what's around him.

Another snap, some ragged breathing. Closer this time.

Rex burst into a clearing and stopped cold. Cody. He was alone, his head tilted up towards the overcast sky. Rex's missing blaster was pressed to the middle of his chest, where his windpipe met his lungs.

"Not another step, vod'ika." His voice was hoarse, like he had been crying.

"Cody?" Rex asked, taking another small step forward.

Cody flicked off the safety on the blaster. Rex froze. "Please, Rex. Go back inside." He said quietly.

"Cody what's going on?" Rex asked. His hands were shaking.

"My chip is still in my head, vod. Damaged, yes, but it's still there. Still... somewhat functioning." Rex took a couple more hesitant steps forward. He knew Cody knew he was approaching. Cody's finger twitched on the trigger but didn't squeeze.

"I get... episodes. They started as headaches, but now it's full on dangerous. I'll come out of it and find myself with a knife in my hands or I'll drop a dish." Cody's voice shook. "Ahsoka's already gotten hurt twice because of it. And the thing in my head is only getting stronger, Rex. I don't want to... I don't..." He hung his head and gave a ragged sob.

Rex crossed the rest of the distance between them, carefully pushing Cody's gun hand down and pulling him into his arms.

"I promised myself I'd die before I hurt them." He whispered hoarsely into Rex's shoulder.

"It's ok, it'll be alright, Cody. We can get it out. This isn't necessary." Rex tried to calm him down the best he could. Cody shook his head and gave another hiccuping cry.

"You can't, Rex. The same pirates that took me to Corascant... they tried to help me." His voice was getting higher, almost to the point of hysteria. "There's an open vein. It can't clot because of the chip. It opened when I hit my head and the chip fragmented. Take out the chip and I die." He was shaking now. Or maybe Rex was. He didn't know.

"We'll find a way to neutralize the chip. We can figure this out." Rex pleaded. "Come back to the house, Cody. I won't let you hurt anybody I swear. Just come home, please."

"I'm sorry, vod'ika." Cody whispered. "I can't do that.

Rex didn't register what had happened at first. Later, he realized that Cody had the blaster pressed against his ribs. There was a muffled shot and a flash of blue light.