A/N Guess who's back! I'm getting back into the groove of being dormant for a long time. Hopefully you guys haven't forgotten me. Anyway we have a big romantic fanfiction a head of us so... on with the story. Obviously this is my go to paring.
Chapter 1
Umbara. That's a place that clones go to die. At least that's what a certain famous clone captain believes. After the carnage that was the battle of Umbara under the command of the treacherous Pong Krell, Rex's out look on the war and his involvement changed drastically. He's watched his brothers die multiple times, in the day and in his dreams, however never has he seen his brothers fall at the hands of a jedi. That was what some in the 501st will say that killed Rex. Not the war, not the stress, not the fact that he felt the need to protect everyone. No it was the fact that he watched clones, his brothers, fall because of a jedi's blade. Rex trusted the jedi and there are some where he still does, however now he can never trust new jedi. Not anymore. If it wasn't for his General and his Commander, he would never trust the jedi again. However both jedi are determined to keep Rex trusting the jedi. However the Commander has other reasons for Rex keeping his trust.
Ahsoka walks in the hall of the ship the Resolute looking for the 501st captain. The clone captain has been missing for a few days and he has everyone worried. Mainly his close friends, Commander Cody, Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi wan. Ahsoka's pace quickens when she hears a grunt. She runs to the barracks and contacts Cody.
"Cody, I think I found him. He's in the barracks."
"Keep him there. I'll be there shortly." Ahsoka puts the comlink away and opens the door to see Rex, shirtless, doing push ups. After a closer look she can tell he's drenched in sweat, which means he's been doing this for a long time. She sighs and leans on the doorway.
"Rex." Obviously he wasn't expecting that cause just as he starts moving down he jumps and falls to the ground letting out a groan and trying to pick himself up. Cody walks to the doorway and sees the scene in front of him.
"Rex what were you doing?" This earned an exhausted groan from Rex and he finally manages to pick himself up.
"Rex you need to get out of the barracks."
"Not gonna happen, Cody." Cody walks up to him and grabs his arm standing him up.
"For gods sake, Rex. Look at yourself. You are a mess and you are over working yourself. Rex you have everyone worried about you. You need to stop doing this." Rex lifts his arm up to push Cody's arm off of him but his arm doesn't even make it.
"I'm not leaving Cody." Cody scowls at Rex and turns to Ahsoka.
"Commander, can you give us a moment?" She nods and exits the room closing the door leaving the two brothers alone.
"Alright you have ten seconds to spill it or you and I will have a little chat."
"There's nothing to talk about." Cody, obviously not buying the lie places Rex on the wall.
"Rex talk now. This is non negotiable." Rex glares at his brother and then sighs.
"I'm not saying anything. It's none of your concern." This was enough to enrage Cody.
"Alright listen you stubborn clone. We are your friends and we care about you. You need to get this through that think head of yours. You can't just..." All of a sudden Cody sees Rex start shaking.
"Rex?" Apparently the clone captain can't contain the emotions bubbling inside of him cause he explodes into a emotional mess.
"You don't get it do you Cody? I had to watch my brothers slaughter each other. I defended a jedi who didn't care about us and wanted us dead. I watched him kill my brothers and I had the chance to kill him but I couldn't. I see my brothers die again in my dreams. It haunts me that I couldn't protect them because I was too weak. I couldn't save them, so how do you expect me to protect one of you guys. That's why I distanced myself. That's why I didn't tell you anything." After getting that out Rex realizes what he has done. Cody sits him on the bunk and drops to one knee.
"Rex you are the strongest captain I know. Don't worry about saving us Rex. Trust me, we will be fine. Now come on, let's get you back on your feet." Cody smiles at Rex and grabs his arm.
"Cody I can walk. I just can't walk fast."
"I know, but I'm not the one who's dragging you to med bay. Commander Tano is." Rex smiles and then starts trying to walk.
"You know this isn't needed right?" The door slides open and Cody and Ahsoka trade off.
"It is now. Get some rest Rex. Also never scare us like that again. I can't lose another brother to them." Rex nods knowing he's referencing the loss of Echo.
Ahsoka starts leading Rex towards the med bay but stops abruptly. Rex is about to say something before he's cut off by Ahsoka hugging him.
"Rex please don't ever do that again. I can't lose you. If I ever lost you I wouldn't be able to continue in this war. You're what I'm fighting for."
"Ahsoka I'm not leaving. I promise. Listen I had to deal with the pain of what happened. I'm sorry for scaring you. Ahsoka can I ask you something?" She looks at him then nods.
"Of course Rex. You can always ask me something." Rex sighs and then looks at her.
"Does everyone believe that we are nothing but mindless drones?" Ahsoka reels back at the question. She looks at Rex in shock and then sees the tears forming in his eyes.
"Rex no one thinks that the clones are drones. You're human, just like others. You're not droids and you are not expandable. No matter what people tell you. Every clone is unique Rex." Rex looks down and then hugs her.
"Thank you Ahsoka. I needed to know that someone else thought we were more than machines." She smiles at him and then looks down.
"What's wrong kid?" She looks at him and then shakes it off.
"Nothing Rexie." For once since the battle on Umbara, Ahsoka finally hears the sound she's been wanting to hear out of Rex. He laughs. She can't help herself and she smiles at the fact she finally made the clone captain smile and even laugh.
"Well I guess I'm going to the med bay." He starts walking and then looks over his shoulder.
"Oh and Ahsoka..." She looks up at him and he smirks.
"Give Cody a good punch in the chest for me alright?" She nods and he walks away. 'There has to be some way that we can show Rex that everything will be okay. Hopefully Anakin will know how.' She breaks out of her thought and runs to council room.
After an hour in the med bay Rex finally was cleared to leave. However he was taken off active duty for a few weeks due to the psych evaluation. Apparently Krell did more than use Rex, he destroyed his resolve. Everything Rex knew was tested and ripped to shreds. 'It's surprising that I can even trust the jedi. I know they're not like him but I can't help the feeling that all jedi believe we are just soldiers who are sent to die. Is that wrong of me? Should I feel that way to all jedi? I know Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi wan don't feel that way but I can't help but feel the others do. Maybe I should just rest. Whatever Krell did to me, it's affecting everything.' He shakes his thought away and walks to the barracks, to finally get some rest.
Finally getting to the room, Ahsoka walks through the door, luckily not interrupting any meeting.
"Hmm padawan Tano. Good to see you it is." She bows to Yoda and addresses the council.
"Masters I know this is a little umm... odd request, but I think we need to do something for Captain Rex. There's a reason he hid himself. It's not what we thought." Mace Windu shifts so that his arms are on his knees and he looks at Ahsoka.
"What did you find?" Ahsoka sighs and then looks down.
"Rex is losing the battle. He's struggling to keep the trust of the jedi. He's striving for the republic he used to know before Krell shattered him. He's breaking down. I'm afraid that if we don't do something soon... we will lose the captain that we used to know." Every jedi in the council is taken back by this. Some murmur and some outright exclaim their surprise.
"Hmm... save the captain we must."
"But how? If the captain is trying to keep the trust between us how can we do anything without him being suspicious?" Windu and Yoda look at each other before Plo Koon speaks up.
"Perhaps we could show the captain that he can still trust us. The only way to do that is to show the captain what we believe the clones are." Obi wan starts stroking his beard and then nods.
"Cody told me that what Krell did to Rex was he ordered him to kill his brothers, then turned around and killed many of the remaining troops. If we can show Rex that the Jedi would do anything to keep the clones alive it would show him that the actions and beliefs of Krell are not those that the jedi hold."
"Work it could. Keep and eye on him, we must." Ahsoka nods and turns to leave.
"Padawan Tano, be careful you must. Sense something in the captain, I do."
"Of course master." She walks out and heads for Rex's quarters in the barracks. Hopefully her plan will bring Rex back. Bring her Rex back.
Rex wakes up to hear nothing but voices. Not only the voices of the clones, but the voice of something dangerous. Something sinister. 'This battle is lost because of your failure. You are right Captain, ARC trooper 5555 and CT 5597 will not be court-marshaled. We do not have the time. I want a fire squad ready for their execution.' 'Rex can't you see? Krell is using you.' 'He's a jedi Fives. He's not using me.' 'He was right Captain. I was using you. Your blind loyalty made it easy for me.' That was what caused Rex to go off the edge. Rex stands up and throws his fist into the wall causing a dent in the wall and his hand to start bleeding. Apparently he yelled when he did it because the voices outside his door stopped. He opens the door, thankful for the fact that he has his helmet on and walks past the clones.
"Captain are you okay?" Rex stops in his tracks as he hears Jesse's voice.
"I'm fine Jesse." He starts walking and the clone just stares at him.
Rex walks to the briefing room, knowing he won't be able to sleep, and is shocked by what he sees. Ahsoka, Anakin, Obi wan and Cody stand by a hologram.
"Rex. Good to see you on your feet. I was just about to call you."
"What's going on?"
"Well we need your consultation on this one Captain. We can't decide if this is the right way to go about getting to the objective point." Rex walks over to the map and analyzes it before looking at the superior officers.
"No, no, no. the way you're going is going to get you caught in the middle of a fire fight. You need to go through this canyon and then go through this point here."
"Wait but wouldn't that take us to this wall?"
"Yes but the wall gives you more cover than walking in the middle of an open area that's filled with droids. Once at the wall you need to bring it down and then you can move troops through this point. The only problem you will run into for no matter which path you take. You will always have this artillery in the way." Everyone looks at where he's pointing and then Obi wan nods.
"I see. And this is the route that will get us to the objective with the fewest casualties?"
"Yes sir. As long as everything goes as planned."
"Thank you Captain. You should get some rest. You look tired."
"I'm fine sir." Rex immediately regrets saying that as everyone in the room stares at him. 'Thank god I have my helmet on.'
"Rex we heard about what happened. We know you haven't gotten any rest. If you won't sleep than at least take it easy until you're cleared for duty." Rex nods at Anakin and then turns to leave.
"There has to be some way we can get Rex to stop working for a while." Cody looks at Obi wan and then at the door where Rex left.
"I agree General."