Chapter Text
“I had to… I had to. He betrayed us."
Dogma didn't resist as Fives took control of the blaster in his hands but couldn't seem to let it go either. The ARC trooper didn't seem to mind as he flipped the safety on the DC-17 and then carefully peeled it out of his hands. Dogma just continued to stare straight ahead at the body now laying in the back of the cell with a faint wisp of smoke still curling from the blaster wound in the center of his shoulder blades.
… I shot him… I killed him… he betrayed us… he betrayed me… I shot the Jedi…
Rex was still giving him that wide eyed look of disbelief before his eyes traced back to Krell's body where it was partially slumped against the wall. For a long moment the Captain didn't move as he stared where the Jedi had fallen before finally seemingly coming back to himself. He flipped the safety on his hand blaster and slammed it roughly into its holster, heaving a quick sigh as he turned away from the body and now fixed his eyes on Dogma.
Dogma felt a cold bead of sweat trace down the side of his face from his temple to his jaw as he came under scrutiny from his superior officer. He shivered and took a step back, suddenly scared of what he had done and the consequences of his actions. There was no hiding this, his Captain, Torrent's 2IC and the ARC specialist assigned to them were all in the room. Three members of the upper command staff had seen what he had done.
… I shot him… I killed a Jedi… I killed a traitor… am I good… wait… how can I be a good soldier?
Fives took hold of his shoulder as he went to take another step back. "Hey," he said, frowning at him as he moved to stand more in front of him. "Hey. Dogma, it's okay. Breathe. We're not going to hurt you. Come on, take a deep breath in for me and let it out." Fives made a point to take hold of both his shoulders then, taking an exaggerated breath. "I know it's hard but just follow my breathing okay. In and out."
It took him a moment to realize why Fives was talking to him like he was having a panic attack or something. It took his breath stuttering in his chest for him to realize that he was sucking in weak gasps of air that didn't seem to be making its way into his lungs. He tried to take another step back but Fives' moved with him, not really crowding him but also not letting him back away like he wanted to.
"It's okay Dogma. Come on. In and out. Slow steady. Just follow my pattern. Follow my breaths. In and out. In… and out."
Fives kept talking to him like that. His voice stayed at a calm and measured pace as he talked, making a point to stay directly in front of Dogma so that he had nowhere else to look as he worked in talking him through it. Dogma struggled to follow his breathing pattern. His lungs couldn't seem to work and the hitching gasps he was making sounded pained and distraught even to his own ears but he couldn't seem to get them to stop.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity he managed to get his breathing under control and the words just started tumbling out of his mouth. The urge to explain himself overruled any logical thought and pressed him to just ramble. It honestly took him a moment to even realize what he was saying.
"-Betrayed us all… he did it on purpose… why would he… why would he hurt me… he used us… betrayed us… betrayed me… murder so many… wanted us all to die…"
"Dogma, hey hey, it's okay." Fives was saying, rubbing a hand up and down his bicep as if trying to rub some warmth back into him but Dogma could only feel a soul biting cold that seemed intent to freeze him enough to make him brittle so he shattered as soon as he was handled wrong. "We know. Alright. We heard what he said too. You're not alone, we were right here."
Dogma managed to nod his head. He still felt cold and he was still taking large gasps for air that didn't seem to fill his lungs. Now that he was a bit calmer he realized he was trembling and the urge to back away from Fives was stronger but the ARC seemed intent on staying right where he was, not too close yet not far enough.
"Dogma," Captain's Rex voice was soft yet Dogma could hear the sharp underlying snap of authority in it and his stomach rolled at the realization. "You said he hurt and betrayed you. What do you mean? What happened?"
Dogma shook his head suddenly feeling cornered. He didn't want to think about it much less talk about it. "I-it's nothing sir. J-Just a slip of the tongue." The attempt to brush aside the topic was weak even to his ears. "I'm fine. E-everything is fine, sir," he tried to sound convincing but again it just sounded so weak.
Jesse let out a little snort at that. Up until now the company's 2IC had been quiet, casually watching the play by play as the rest of them talked. "Come on Dogma, we weren't decanted yesterday. What did that bastard do to hurt you?"
Dogma shook his head and took another step back, his back finally bumping against the smooth light purple gray walls of the cell block. The trapped feeling increased again especially with how Five still seemed intent on staying in front of him. Couldn’t he just take the hint and get away from him? "Nothing... He didn't do anything, sir."
"Dogma," Captain Rex was using that same kind of voice he had used when Dogma had tried to stop them out in the flight line. That same sort of almost tired acceptance as if nothing surprised him anymore and he just wanted him to understand. "It's alright. We want to help you."
… Help him… where were they when I needed them… why did they leave me alone… why did they abandon me…
Dogma shook his head and pressed back to the wall more.
"Dogma, what did he do to you?"
Dogma squeezed his eyes closed though it was still spoken softly he recognized it as an order being given to him. Somehow it was easier this way to think of it as an order. A sitrep. With his eyes closed like this he didn't have to see their concerned or thinly veiled disgust at what he had done. He had been following orders. He had to follow orders. He had to follow orders like the good little soldier that he was.
He felt like he was going to throw up.
"He was worried about me, said I was too thin. Told me to join him. Before morning muster and sometimes late at night after lights out. Always had food and made me eat. Ordered me to. Said I needed to increase my weight. That if I lost much more Kix would send me away."
There was a small noise of disagreement from the other side of his eye lids and he could already imagine the look of disbelief on Jesse's face. As if Kix would ever label a vode as medically unfit because of that. He knew that now but back then it had made so much sense when Krell had waved his hand and said it. He didn't want to be sent away to wherever defective clones were sent. He didn't want to be made to leave and he'd do anything he had to so he could stay where he was.
Anything.
"Sometimes he'd tell me to eat it slowly. S-savor the taste. Or blow on it to cool it off. He'd always ask me if I enjoyed it. To describe what it tasted like." He shivered, trying not to think too hard on some of the other orders he had been given, "Sometimes it was too sour or just didn't taste good and he… he kept ordering me to eat so he could watch. Always so much easier to listen to him when he would wave his hand. Just follow his orders and everything would all be okay."
Dogma could feel the change of atmosphere the minute he had said that. The slight shift in armor as one of them took half a step closer to him before freezing. He whimpered, suddenly feeling sick about what he had let happen to him. He should have said no, refused to follow orders but he just couldn’t. He had to follow orders, like a good soldier… and good soldiers followed orders.
Maker… had he really pointed his blaster at Tup?
"Dogma," the frown was clearly audible in Captain Rex's voice, like he really didn't want to but at the same time needed to know the answer. "Did…did he touch you?"
Had he? Dogma’s eyes snapped open as he tried to remember but honestly he couldn't. He didn’t want to. His mind was strangely murky when he thought of it but the sense that something bad happened -that someone had been hurting him and he knew it was wrong- had him mentally shying away from the answer. He didn't want to know what that answer was. He didn't want to admit what may or may not have happened.
He opened his mouth to answer his Captain because he had to respond to his superior officer as expected but nothing but a small noise came out. It sounded weak and broken even to his own ears and he quickly looked away from the pained look on Captain Rex's face, embarrassed by his inability to answer. He tried to fold in on himself and hide away from their penetrating gazes but Fives' suddenly caught him as he went to fall to his knees. He wouldn’t let him curl into a small enough ball for his liking.
"Dammit," Jesse whispered quietly but it still sounded loud enough to be like a lone blaster shot firing in the room.
… Oh Maker… I shot him… I killed a Jedi…
Dogma quickly lurched to the side again; doing what he could to get some distance away from them so he didn't inadvertently throw up on any of the officers. His sides ached as he heaved but there was next to nothing coming up anymore. Fives' grip on him tightened as another round hit leaving him exhausted and wrung out. He couldn't help but sag in the specialist's arms as his traitorous stomach continued to roll and rebel.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have let him... I'm sorry… I-I should have fought back… or something… Should have told someone… I'm sorry…"
It took him too long to realize that the faint voice whining in the background was actually coming from him.
Fives was rubbing his back, supporting him with one arm across his chest and pinning his bound arms up and out of the sick he had made while his head hung heavily from his neck. He was on his knees, head swimming and somehow even more tired than before. A small part of him knew he was done, that if they continued their questioning he wouldn't be able to answer them anymore. He wouldn't be able to follow orders any longer.
… And if he couldn't follow orders what kind of soldier was he?
… I killed a Jedi… I'm not a good solider… I can't follow orders… bad soldiers get decommissioned… I'm going to be decommissioned…
"-take him to medical. Jesse, get Kix but be discreet about it. Only tell him what he needs to know and nothing about what happened in here just now." The Captain was talking and he had missed it. Had he missed an order? How worthless was he to miss the Captain talking to him?
"Yes sir," both Jesse and Fives said and Dogma whimpered as his throat and nose burned. The acidic taste permeated his mouth and even up into his sinuses. He felt sick all over again.
"Dogma," Fives said softly in his ear. "I'm going to pick you up now alright? Is it okay if I pick you up and carry you to medical?"
Throughout all of this, Fives had been like a rock for him. He hadn't shied away from what he had done or said. He hadn't left him when he had every right to. Fives had just been there, holding him firmly but carefully, sheltering him from his own internal storm that had done its best to tear him down from the inside.
Dogma nodded his head weakly, lacking even the strength to lift it from where it hung. He was so tired.
"I need to hear you say it, Dogma," Fives coaxed him, still talking softly. "Please use your voice."
"Yes," Dogma whimpered as that feeling of embarrassment washed over him again. "I'm sorry-" he tried to say, feeling a desperate need to apologize for everything and anything.
"No no no," Fives cooed softly as he moved him ever so slowly, first rolling him backwards onto his shins as he pulled Dogma's torso up to his chest. From there it was easy enough for the ARC to slip his other arm behind his knees and gently roll him back into his arms. "Don't apologize, Dogma. You didn't do anything wrong."
Fives stood effortlessly, cradling him securely in both arms. "It's not your fault," he continued as he took several steps over to the lift where Jesse and the Captain were already waiting for them. "None of this is your fault." Dogma knew he should be standing to attention in the presence of his commanding officer but when he squirmed to be put down, Fives just gently tightened his grip.
"No its okay, Dogma. I got you. Just rest for now. I got you. You're safe. No one is going to hurt you while I'm here. It's okay."
Fives' voice remained a gentle counterpart to the soft swoosh of the lift as it bore them all out of that terrible room.
-Break-
The trip to medical passed by in a strange haze. The only constant seemed to be Fives’ voice keeping up a soothing litany of words as he moved through the halls but there was something off about his gate. Like he would sometimes pause and wait, shift him about as if impatient before moving forward again. Jesse seemed to be the one that was hovering around them, dropping back or rushing forward, his voice calm and steady as he shooed those who were loitering around off so that Fives and him could go through the area unobserved.
And Rex was just gone; having left them shortly after the lift had reached the next level.
Medical wasn't that far from the cell block but it still seemed to take a small eternity for them to get there. Jesse quickly waved them toward the back while he kept a lookout, opening the door for them so Fives didn't have to juggle him to get into a private exam room. "Kix will be here shortly," he said as he dug around in one of the cabinets that was set off to the side and pulled out what looked like a thick blanket. "Messaged him and asked him to meet us here."
Fives had taken Dogma right over and settled him on the bed. Even though Fives had tried to lay him down, Dogma found himself squirming to get upright so he was sitting. He was feeling strangely weak and exhausted though and sagged towards Fives who let him slump against him. The ARC gave the Lieutenant a sharp look even as he hesitantly rested a hand on Dogma's arm and brought the other up around behind his back, obviously ready to back off if asked but still offering him some support. "Jesse," he growled in warning. "We can't have any records of this."
"Relax," Jesse smiled in a disarming way as he walked back over to them, unfolding the blanket as he went. "I made it sound like I had hurt myself and put it off again. He'll be a bit crabby when he walks in here but there's enough evidence if anyone thinks to go back they'll see the pattern. No one will suspect a thing."
Some of the tension seemed to ease out Fives and he sighed. "Okay good." He turned away from Jesse who was draping the blanket over Dogma’s legs and carefully resting it up along his torso. He gave Dogma a soft smile, "Hey, how are you doing?"
Dogma found himself averting his eyes from that comforting smile. Considering what he had done, Fives shouldn't even be here. If anything one of them should put him in front of a firing squad or have just shot him in the cell block. Why were they being so nice?
Had he really seen Kix on a firing squad? To shoot at Jesse of all people?! Maker, had he picked the clones on the team? Why couldn’t he remember any details?
As if summoned by that thought, Kix stormed into the room. His armor was still dirty; faint pinkish brown smears were seen here and there on the surface. He looked like he had taken one stim too many and was definitely on the warpath as he growled out Jesse's name as soon as the door admitted him but paused when he saw the three of them in the room.
"Hey Kixy," Jesse said, plastering a charming smile on his face as he pitched his voice low and soft. "It's okay, I'm fine, but can I talk to you a moment?"
Kix's eyes darted between the three of them as Jesse walked up to him, carefully like he was approaching a wild animal. "What happened?" Kix frowned at them as Jesse put a hand on his shoulder and backed him up a bit, palming the door lock as he did.
"I'll give you the short version," was all Dogma was able to make out as Jesse stepped in close, crowding Kix back against the now locked door so he could whisper softly in his ear.
"Dogma?" Fives asked, pulling his attention away from the other two clones in the room. Kix's eyes had just widened in shock at whatever Jesse was saying. "Do you want some water or something? At least to rinse your mouth out?"
Honestly he had tasted worse and the acidic bile aftertaste in his mouth felt like something he deserved to suffer through. "I'm fine." His voice sounded gravely and rough to his own ears but he didn't bother trying to clear his throat. Now that everything had come to light, he just wanted to sleep and forget that it all happened.
"Dogma?" Jesse had moved away from Kix and allowed the medic to step towards him. "Are you alright if I come over?" Whatever Jesse had said had completely changed the medic's disposition, he seemed much calmer and gentler than when he had first stormed into the room.
Dogma nodded his head then remembering that Fives had wanted him to use his voice earlier. "Yeah," his voice sounded small to his own ears.
"Do you want something to drink?" Kix asked as he came over to stand on the opposite side of the bed. Jesse hung back near the door frowning but still giving them space.
"No. I'm fine," Dogma tried to sit up more but wobbled again, slumping back into Fives' chest was easier than keeping himself upright.
"Alright. Do you want to lay down?"
Dogma made himself sit up a bit more even though he was still leaning against Fives' chest. "No. I'm fine." Because he was. Nothing bad had happened. He was fine. Just… fine.
"Are you okay with me running a few scans on you?" Kix asked, waiting patiently for his answer and only after he had given his verbal consent did the medic move towards him carefully. He made a point to telegraph his movements, talking him through everything he did and checking repeatedly to make sure he was okay with each step. There was something about it that both irritated but calmed him. He didn't need to be handled with tubie gloves but the feeling of being cared for soothed him more than he cared to admit.
At some point he wanted to lay down, Fives and Kix made sure he was comfortable. Fives had to leave after a comm that he thought came from the Captain and Jesse was there in his place offering his support just as the ARC had. It was maddening how they were treating him but for the first time since he set foot on this planet, since Krell took over Torrent from General Skywalker, Dogma actually felt safe... Safe and warm and cared for.
He's pretty sure at some point he cried on Jesse's shoulder, the Lieutenant just muttered calm reassurances until he was sagging exhaustedly on him. He wasn't even really sure when he had sat up again or where his armor had gone or even what time it was anymore. He just drifted, existed in a calm gray haze and let Jesse and Kix take care of him. He thought he should be embarrassed by this, that he shouldn't be relying on them to take care of him so much but he couldn't stop himself from greedily sucking up the calm reassurances and feeling of safesafesafe as he relaxed against the older clone.
"Dogma?" He wasn't sure when his eyes had closed but Dogma blinked them open tiredly and looked towards his Captain. Rex looked even more tired than he had back in the cell block but he was still standing tall and proud just inside the door to the room. Now that he was awake -wait had he actually managed to fall asleep?- he realized the Kix was strangely absent and it sent a spike of fear through him.
"Where's Kix?" He asked softly, not even bothering moving from where he was leaning on Jesse. His binders were off and he had an IV in and he now had two heavy blankets wrapped around him. When did that all happen? He remembered agreeing to it but time had seemingly vanished.
"I asked him to step outside." Rex had that quiet calm cadence to his voice like Kix had been using. "He'll only be gone for a moment. Now I want you to stay calm and listen to me alright. I needed to talk to you about what happened back in the cell."
Dogma swallowed thickly, suddenly scared. This was it. Rex was going to tell him he was going to be decommissioned.
"No one -besides you, Fives, Jesse and me- knows what really happened and we're going to keep it that way alright. Fives managed to destroy the footage from the cell and staged it to look like Krell had freed himself and there was a firefight between us that ended with him being shot several times. That's the official story and that's what you need to stick to okay? Don't breathe a word of what really happened. This will keep you safe, Dogma. No one can ever know the truth."
Dogma was speechless as he stared at his Captain. This… this was far beyond what he had expected. He thought for sure they were going to send him in for decommissioning.
"What I can't change or do much about is when you tried to stop us from going after Krell. Too many clones from both the 501st and the 212th were on the flight line. It's not something I can sweep under the rug so you're going to be charged with Insubordination and sent back to Coruscant for trial."
So there was still a chance that he would be decommissioned. If the review board thought his actions justified it they could still send him back to Kamino. He might not be decommissioned, maybe reconditioned, but either way it would destroy who he was.
… It would finish what Krell started…
"Don't panic about going on trial," Rex went on to say, unaware that he already was. "My friend owes me a favor, he's going to protect and take care of you. You'll be enrolled into the Coruscant Guard so look at this like it is a transfer and not disciplinary action, alright?"
There weren't many that could influence a trial like that and Dogma briefly wondered if maybe this was Rex's way of easing him into possible decommissioning. His chain of thought was completely detailed as Rex continued though with probably the last thing he would have expected in this situation.
"Also Dogma, I need to personally apologize to you. I failed you as a superior officer and as a friend. If I had had even the slightest inclination of what Krell had done to you I would have stepped in immediately and put a stop to it… but that bastard apparently knew more about the Umbarian systems than he let on." Rex shook his head, obviously disgusted with himself as he grumbled angrily almost to himself, "He'd wiped all the feeds. I couldn't even find a single security shot of you leaving the general barracks at any point…"
Rex cut himself off, sighed and drew himself up again as he mentally reset himself. "I'm sorry that I didn't know and didn't help you Dogma. I hope that one day you manage to forgive me but I also understand if you never do."
Dogma licked his chapped lips, how could he be upset with Rex when he hadn't even managed to say anything himself. "I don't blame you, sir. I should've… said or done something. Not just let it happen. It was my fau-"
"Don't blame yourself Dogma," Rex told him softly but with enough authority it sounded almost like an order. "You're the victim here. You did nothing wrong."
He wanted to continue arguing but he was just so tired of it. He was far past being mentally and emotionally exhausted from everything. He still felt too keyed up to sleep much but he knew that sleep wouldn't come to him for a while. He wasn't even sure when he had last gotten a good night's rest… definitely before Umbara.
… Karking hell this whole damn planet could fuck right off…
"There's a GAR ship heading back to Coruscant that will be here at the start of the next day's cycle," Rex said, shifting slightly from one foot to the other. "They'll be taking you on as a prisoner transfer. Until then you can stay here with Jesse and Kix if you want."
"Okay," he agreed after a moment, surprised he even got the opportunity in the first place.
"Is there anything else you want before you leave us?" Rex offered almost hesitantly as if he hadn't already done so much for him. "If it's within my power here I'll see to it you get it."
This was it wasn't it? He was leaving the 501st. Drummed out so to speak in some paperwork runabout and sent to the Coruscant Guard. He was no longer going to be on the frontlines, instead he was going to be standing hour upon hour in some stagnant hall, watching senators and other bureaucrats go back and forth about their day. It was a comparatively cushy guard duty while the rest of his vode were fighting and dying for the Republic.
… Tup…
"I-I want to say g-goodbye to Tup."
At first he hadn't realized he had said anything. It wasn't until the look of understanding seemed to dawn on Rex that Dogma realized what he had said. He was being separated from his twin. A twin he had aimed a gun at, who had pointed his own back at him. He wasn't going to ever be there for him again. They were going to be separated by light-years, he'd never be able to keep his promise to protect him at all cost.
He'd probably never see him again.
"Please, I… I need to say goodbye to Tup," he whispered, letting his head fall so that he was looking at his lap. Jesse had to shift his grip on him slightly as his weight shifted. Dogma just couldn't bear to see Rex's face if he said no.
"Alright, I'll make sure he gets a chance to see you before you leave." Rex's promise caused a sob to break from his throat.
"Thank you sir," he whispered, trying to ignore the dampness on his cheeks. "Thank you."
-Break-
Dogma was laying down when Fives came in to send Jesse and more importantly Kix off to get cleaned up and get a solid meal in them. More than likely for Kix’s sake. The medic definitely looked dead on his feet and at some point -he had missed when- Jesse had finally managed to convince Kix to sit down. He had fallen asleep in his chair shortly after, snoring softly, as Jesse basically stood guard over the both of them while they rested.
Dogma was grateful for their support and care but felt guilty knowing that Kix had run himself right into the ground for the past week and hadn't done himself many favors staying with him for so long. He was confident that Jesse would take care of his riduur though, especially given the gentle way he had coaxed him awake and let him use him as a support as Kix wobbled his way out of the room. The heavy use of stims had obviously caught up to him. Dogma swore silently to himself that if he ever got a chance he would help them like they had helped him. They really didn't have to go so far out of their way for him. Fives was another one he needed to find some way to thank but he'd barely thought that when he realized who was with him.
Tup had apparently gotten a shower in and looked like he had managed to get his armor cleaned at some point too. His twin was giving him a worried, almost scared look when he saw him on the bed. Fives hung back as Tup shot forward, not stopping until he had his arms wrapped tightly around Dogma and to his credit Dogma only fumbled a little to get his arms wrapped around Tup. His limbs still felt oddly heavy and uncoordinated but Tup didn't pay it any mind as he held on tightly.
For a while they didn't say anything, just stayed there, holding each other. Dogma wasn't even sure how he was going to say anything. There was no way in karking hell he would burden Tup with what happened to him even if Rex hadn't told him not to say anything. He knew that his twin would blame himself for not realizing Dogma was leaving so often and he was going to have enough to worry about without Dogma watching his back out there. He didn't need to worry about Dogma too.
Dogma's indecision stretched on longer enough that Tup finally whispered in his ear. "Thank you… for listening and not firing your blaster at us."
How could he? His loyalty may have been misplaced but even as he stepped out from behind that pillar he hadn't been ready to shoot any of his vode. Try and drive them off or make them see reason but it felt so wrong to point his blaster at them. Then Tup had aimed his blaster at him and… and he knew he was done. He could never fire at his twin. He'd been so ashamed he'd even lifted it towards him in the first place.
"Like I'd ever shot you," he whispered back. He let out a weak laugh. "Surprised you didn't manage to trip over the shoulder mount when you were moving."
Tup chuckled at that as he shifted back enough to look at him. "That was one time in training."
"Yeah, I'll never let you live it down either," Dogma managed a smile for him that only felt partially forced.
That comment made Tup frown though. "Fives said they're sending you to trial on Coruscant. That you're most likely going to redeploy with a different battalion."
"Yeah," Dogma managed. He sighed as his eyes fell to his lap again. "Sorry but you're going to have to keep an eye on your own back now… I'm not going to be able to keep my promise to you."
"I'm not going to be able to keep my promise to you either." Tup shifted around so he could hop up to perch on the edge of the medical berth next to him. "You're… you're going to have to keep an eye on your blind side now… I won't… I won't be there to watch it anymore."
He was starting to cry, Dogma realized even as he threw his arm over his shoulders. They had been together through everything so far in their short lives that the thought of them getting separated now felt like he was in the process of cutting off his own arm. He swallowed past the lump in his own throat and realized that Tup wasn't the only one crying. "Yeah I'll… I'll keep my eye on it."
"You'll write me right?" Tup's voice cracked as he said that as his arm slid around Dogma's waist. "Keep in touch and let me know you're okay?"
Dogma leaned his head towards him and Tup met him halfway. They sat there for a moment, hip to shoulder, arms around each other with their heads pressed together. It was how they always rode in transport or larty, pressed against each other in a silent vow of support for the other. It was something he would miss.
"Only if you do the same," he whispered as he let his eyes fall shut.
He felt Tup nod against his head. "Make it to the end with me?"
"I'll do everything I can to see you again," Dogma agreed without pause… because he would. This… This wasn't going to be their final goodbye. "Be careful?"
Tup nodded again, "Always."
And that was how they stayed until Fives reluctantly told them it was time. He quietly disconnected Dogma's IV for him and then he and Tup helped him kit out in his armor again. Tup snuck in one more hug before Fives seemingly reluctantly put his binders back on him, this time with his hands behind his back. He supposed that was only fair considering he had stripped him of his blaster before.
The walk to the flight line was quiet. It was until they came in sight of the guards that would escort him on the larty into orbit and to the ship waiting to take him to Coruscant that Tup made a small sound of distress in the back of his throat. His twin suddenly pulled him up short and gave him one last hug. He knocked their foreheads together gently before letting him go.
"Every day," he said as he stepped back but kept his eyes on him. "I need to hear from you every day."
"Same," he said even if he stepped back. "Be careful out there Tup. I expect to see you after all this is over." He barely waited to see Tup nod in agreement before turning away. He started for the two guards waiting patiently only for Fives to pull him up short.
"Don't worry about Tup. I'll keep an eye on him." The ARC assured him with a gentle smile, "You worry about yourself."
"Thanks Fives…" Dogma meant for everything he had done for him in the past day but he couldn't manage to say anything more past the lump in his throat.
The ARC seemed to know though and walked with him up to the two guards wearing 501st blue but Dogma couldn't name them if he tried. He had too much going through his mind at the moment and yet something prompted him to turn his head to look over his shoulder while Fives did the verbal transfer of the other guards.
Captain Rex and Jesse were standing over next to another larty that was parked nearby on the flight line. Tup was walking towards them with his head down and Dogma could tell by the subtle shake in his shoulders that he was crying again. His eyes were drawn back to Rex though and his now former Captain gave him a single sharp nod of his head.
Dogma returned the gesture as Fives gave one last pat to his shoulder and stepped away. Dogma sucked in a shaky breath as he looked ahead again and stepped up into the larty main bay. One of the guards was talking to him but he didn't hear him. Only following the gesture for him to take a seat on a bench for take off and he mechanically went through the motions.
As if drawn one more time to look out at the airbase, he looked out over what had once been his life and watched as the side bay door slid shut. As the heavy thuds of the main latches locked into place, Dogma felt like his connection to the 501st was snapped completely. He was all alone now.
At least he was leaving behind Umbara … now if only he could leave behind the memories of what had happened to him here.