Chapter 1. A Narrow Escape
Obi-Wan walked down the corridor of the half-destroyed, yet still flying ship to the bridge where the group had since congregated. In the corner, he found the Duchess and Senator speculating that night's events to themselves, and in the corner opposite them stood Cody and Rex doing the same, Obi-Wan presumed. At the wheel was none other than the "galaxy's best pilot," and his padawan.
"If he can get us down in this thing, I'll be thoroughly impressed," thought Obi-wan with a smirk.
As he got closer, Obi-Wan noticed that Anakin and Ahsoka were having an increasingly loud argument, though he couldn't make out what about until he was bombarded with the words crash and landing.
"What's going on," Obi-Wan pressed.
"Master, there is no way I can fly this piece of scrap through hyperspace. We aren't going to be able to get to the Resolute in the thi-"
"What do you mean you can't fly this thing," Ahsoka interrupted. "We can't just sit here! Whoever tried to attack us down there had a reason and is probably still looking for us! We have two Galactic politicians, two Jedi, a Jedi padawan, and two Clone Commanders of the two most elite legions in the GAR all on board, and you're saying you can't land the stupid ship?"
"That's a lot of two's," Anakin joked.
"Well, things do tend to come in pairs," added Obi-Wan.
"Yeah, except for me," Ahsoka noted.
"You're just unique, Snips." Anakin was about to add to the humiliation of his young padawan, but Obi-Wan took notice and stepped in.
"Alright you two, that's enough," he said peering amusingly out of the ship. He pondered the options for a moment until asking, "Is there anyway, you think, to get the Resolute here?"
"We could, Master, but that would take hours even at hyperspace. This ship is coming apart as we speak. I don't think I could hold it together long enough," Anakin replied.
As the Generals pondered their situation, Rex, Cody, Satine, and Padme had worked their way over to the controls. Glancing at the NaviComputer, Rex was shocked to recognize the name of the planet passing in front of the screen. "Saleucami," Rex whispered in awe, causing the others to turn and stare. Noting that the rest of them were waiting his elaboration, Rex stood taller and leaned closer to the display. Turning to Anakin, he added while pointing, "Sir, do you think you get us to that planet?"
"Do you question my abilities, Captain?"
"Uh, n-no, Sir, not at all," Rex stuttered taken aback by the question.
"Relax, Rex. Just messin' with ya'," Anakin said playfully as he gave a Rex a friendly jab in the shoulder.
"Of course, Sir." Rex was thankful for his helmet so as to avoid later humiliation by Cody, however, as he saw his plan of action accepted by the Generals, he noticed himself stand a little taller than before, a smirk growing on his face as he anticipated visiting the planet for a second time. He unconsciously rubbed his left shoulder.
- Several minutes later -
"Hey Rex, wait up," Cody called jogging down the hall. "What do you know that the rest of us don't about this Saleucami place?"
"What makes you think I know anything," retorted Rex.
"Oh come on, brother. Nobody else may have noticed it, but I definitely saw it. When you said the word 'Saleucami,' you had a chill start in your toes, run all the way up your spine, and come out through your mouth. What do you know?"
Rex was amazed at his brother's observation, but lowered his voice and answered, "Two inches to the left and I would have been a dead man." He said it has he patted the left side of his chest. Then, remembering the stories he had been told, Cody responded with a sigh. "General Kenobi is right. Things do tend to come in pairs." With that, the men proceeded down the hall to join the others in their landing preparations.