They did get onboard the Negotiator in one piece. читать дальше
Naturally, the hangar deck swarmed with curious troopers: everybody wanted to get a first glance on their new Jedi. To have their own Jedi general was a big thing to any clone army unit. It meant to be recognised as an independently operating part of the Grand Army. To see the purpose for which they had been grown and trained now realized. To have their own mascot, if you please. The Jedi were few, and a legend in the Galaxy. Very few of the troopers had ever met one. They said one was to be stationed on Kamino, overseeing the training of cadets, but nobody was sure whether it was true or just a rumour. So it was a triumph, of sorts, that they had finally successfully secured themselves a Jedi general.
As soon as the gunship's engines shut down, Cody could discern an excited buzz which rose to a clamor of greeting calls and laughter the moment the Jedi, in his long brown cloak, appeared on the ramp. As they stepped out, clones dropped all pretense of working – those few who had bothered to look like they were actually doing something, instead of just lolling about – and gathered closer. Cody got several supportive shoulder slaps and waves, and shouts, „Hey, Commander! Good work, Cody!“
He saw the familiar golden buzz in the vicinity. Rex. A good friend he may be, but he could have a big mouth occasionally. There certainly were moments a clone could do without such friends. Shut up, Rex. If you are a brother, then keep that tongue of yours—
„So you finally managed to bring one alive? Well done, brother!“
Riiight. You're so dead, Rex.
Cody peered at Kenobi from the corner of his eye, hoping against hope that the Jedi hadn't caught that. Gauging his reaction: osik, run, or live to fight another day? The eyebrows creeping up to the hairline were somewhat ambiguous. Cody sighed. „Just welcoming you, sir,“ he muttered. Then he took a deep lungful of air and roared vengefully, „GENERAL ON DECK!!!“
All noise was cut off, everybody standing motionless at perfect attention. Gotcha, Rex, old boy. That will shut you up. Remind you who's the boss.
Speaking of playing boss... He held the glances of some of the closest troopers briefly. „Your men, General,“ he said quietly to Kenobi, and then stepped back, leaving the stage to the Jedi.
Who, of course, promptly undid Cody's good work. He chose the moment to hold, of all things, a speech. Hopes for fruitful cooperation and swift victory, blah-blah. Thankfully not very long, but – you just didn't do that to the clones. It wasn't in. What he should have done, was, „The name's Kenobi. You'll have my back. Dismissed.“ Instead, he was blathering about cooperation. What cooperation? He was the Jedi, the clones were supposed to follow, obey and protect, what more was there?
As General Kenobi finished his small speech, silence once again took over the hangar deck The troopers stood at parade rest, perfectly, as they were supposed. Their lack of reaction seemed to confuse the Jedi, though, as he threw him a questioning glance. Civilian, Cody rolled his eyes. Once again a lungful of air, and – „Dis-MISSED!“
He turned to Kenobi. See, sir, that's the way we do things here in the army. Out loud, however, he said only, „Lunch, sir?“