Sola's buzzer sounded. The Jedi knight got up from the couch where she watched the televised broadcast about the senate's war decisions. Though she was no longer escorting members of the senate or being a direct witness of the senate meetings, she still felt compelled to keep up with latest events and changes. Habits formed.

She was recently granted access to an apartment the Jedi Council kept rented on Coruscant for that very reason. Put in the senatorial district—as it was nicknamed—Sola had quick and easy access to a great deal of the senators and became something of a link between them and the Jedi. After recent events, like that of the monster destroying a great deal of Coruscant's property, having Jedi presence around seemed a good idea. Sola had been volunteered.

Yet she knew it was no senator that came buzzing here. It was about midday and she had a vistitor…

Rex waited outside of Sola's apartment. In uniform (but not armor), he had recently re-dyed his blonde hair and cut it down and showered probably four times in the past two days waiting for the chance to meet her out of the battlefield again. Not too long ago, the Zillo beast crisis had occurred and it had been a while since he saw her at all. He wondered if they'd ever be able to just have another sit-down again….

But this was precisely what they were having.

Sola opened the door. Decked out in Jedi robes, with her hair not down today but with tendrils and in a large bun behind her. Rex looked at her and couldn't help his smile. He thought she was beautiful and he couldn't stop himself from the thought and the warmth it brought him, to look upon her.

"Rex." She gave him a small smile in return. Those eyes…they just penetrated right through her nearly. As if they could see past her surface…past the peace from years of training.

"Sola." He said her name with a fondness that was all too obvious. "Not late am I?"

"No." Sola stepped out of the way to let him in. "I was just looking at Holonet to see the newest developments in the political arena."

"A battlefield." Rex commented. "But a lot messier." Sola smiled wider.

"Too true." She said, walking back over to it. "But I have the misfortune of being its ambassador." She glances at him. "It's not all bad. Depends on who I must babysit." She switched off the television.

"Well…R&R is better than both battlefields sometimes." Rex said. Sola turned back to him and he was looking at her with a peculiar expression.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing." Rex shrugged. "Just marveling at…the time we've spent together."

Sola said nothing. She considered this. Yes, they had spent quite a deal of time together. After the deal with the abduction of the children, she remembered her begging Obi-Wan for them to go to the scene and the kidnappers were apprehended or they got away. But all in all, the children were safe. After the assignment, she and Rex had simply walked…for how long she didn't know. They merely walked in silence, every few minutes glancing at each other until they calmed after the atrocities…and then they had dinner, laughed, and departed. Teammates…gestures from allies…. But what they had shared that night, in their silence, has been something that was more than what common allies shared. It was a friendship—and it was deepening.

"Come." Sola finally said. "I was thinking we would have lunch at the Galatina and then there should be simulations open at the Troopstar Emporium." She smiles. "I've been too long in the senate…want to test my skills in non-live combat."

"Sounds like my kind of day." Rex laughs. "Lead the way…Commander."

The cab ride was enjoyable. Debates about lightball and grav-ball erupted as well as issues concerning whether pazaak was purely made up of luck or not. And whether a Jedi should be allowed to play at all for that matter.

Within several minutes, they landed at the platform leading to Galatina.

"We would not even have time to play professionally." Sola was laughing. "And gambling goes against the Jedi code of morals. No possessions, remember?"

"Yet you have used your skills." Rex smirked.

"As I keep defending—it was in a time of serious peril." Sola complained, a smile still plastered on her face. "I was escorting the senators and we had no communication with the temple. We needed the credits. It was completely justified."

"Oh we all justify ourselves." Rex laughed even harder at Sola's expression.

"You talk as though you have always acted in service to the republic." Sola smirked now.

"True." Rex tilted his head. "But we soldiers don't claim to not engage in it."

"Oh technicalities." Sola shook her head. They were nearly there, moving past the bustling crowds of people. A few senators noticed her and nodded their heads of waved, even addressing Sola as "Master Jedi." They made it to the restaurant and Rex punched open the door and Sola stepped forward only to freeze.

A tingling ran through her spine and the hairs on her neck stood up. Perhaps she was focused too intensely on the crowds in her attempts to maneuver through them…but her ears picked up the low cries…and sounds of struggle.

"Sola?" Rex questioned her as she spun around and glanced around almost frantically.

"I heard…" Sola began but did not finish her sentence. Instead, she listened harder and sure enough, the sound remained. She took off to her right. Rex, bewildered, could only follow. He watched as Sola placed a hand on her lightsaber. She rounded a corner and walked half a block before she heard it—in the houses yards away. She hesitated until she saw the front door open.

Two men dragged a protesting boy out with them. One of their hands clamped over the struggling boy's mouth and roughed him up as they moved towards an awaiting speeder. One look at their armor symbols and Sola knew.

"Black Sun." Rex hissed. Sola nodded and then gave him a brief, expecting look. Rex hesitated only a second before Sola was off. Her lighsaber was in her hand but she had not yet ignited it. With one hand, she tore one man from the boy and sent him flying into the house wall and Rex aimed his blaster at the other, shooting a grazing shot at the man's leg. He dropped and the boy dropped with him, rolling away back towards the house. Sola came to a halt before the first man (the one she'd thrown) and sensed to make sure he'd been truly knocked out.

"Captain," She said to Rex, "Take his weapon," (gestures to the injured man). "And bring him into the house."

She walked to the door which was still open. Slowly, she entered the house, trying to sense any immediate danger. But all she heard was weeping. She walked into the common room to see the boy clutching what was once a man but was now just a heap of blood and bones.

"Boy," Sola addressed the boy. The boy just continued to weep over the man. Sola hesitated before coming closer. "Boy, I am a Jedi. My name is Jedi Knight Valda. Tell me your name so I may help you."

A sound behind her sent her head turning sharply to the left. Rex kicked the conscious man through the door and onto his face, gun still trained on his back. He looked at Sola, who nodded before turning back to the boy.

"I need you to tell me your name." She said more forefully. The boy continued to sniffle but glanced her way. He still had several years before manhood was to be had. As his mind relaxed, Sola steeled herself and then let the force guide her…to his mind. She gave him a gentle nudge and asked again. The boy's eyebrows furrowed and Sola applied a little more force, biting her lip slightly.

"Janmin." The boy sniffed again and spoke his name. Sola felt relief fill her.

"Janmin." She nodded. "Tell me…where are your parents Janmin?"

"My mom…is planetside…probably worried sick." Janmin said, his face crumpling.

"Janmin, Janmin," Sola said soothingly. "Tell me why you aren't with her."

"I…I was mad." Janmin wept. "I…I left the house…and…the next thing I knew…I was hit in the head…and woke up with a bunch of people around me…and I was tied up…and they put me in a shuttle—me and others like me, some older, some younger, and…and then they gave me to the Black Sun and I arrived here on Coruscant and…." The boy swallowed.

"Janmin, who took you away? What planet did they take you from?" Sola asked.

"I come from Shimmer…" Janmin licked his lips. "The slavers…they…they had the KSC patches, some of them…"

"Karazak Slavers…" Rex said more to himself.

It was in that moment that their prisoner jumped up and tripped Rex, heading for the door. Sola spun and stood and, in a moment, used the force to yank the man off of his feet so viciously that his head made a deafening impact on the floor and he went instantly unconscious. The boy screamed and Rex merely got to his feet.

"Outside. Make sure the other is secure." Sola said shortly before turning to the boy. "Okay Janmin, I'm going to tell you what. I'll get you back to Shimmer. Can you tell me anything else? Any of the people who came with you?"

"No…" the boy said. "I was the only one handed over on Coruscant. The men…didn't talk in front of me…not even Laond." He looked back at the dead man.

"Who is he?" Sola asked. "Laond?"

"He was…he said he wouldn't let them put me in slavery. I'd…work for the Black Sun." The boy said quietly. "He said it was the best he could do for me. I'd just be a cleaner or something… but he said he'd keep me safe. But they…the other two found out he was…soft… thought he was giving me information. They talked on a holocom and then they killed him and soon they were going to take me away and you…stopped them."

Sola said nothing but sighed deeply, hand on her mouth. This was…a ghastly situation indeed.

But nothing she couldn't handle.

"Sir?" Rex asked, dropping the other man to the floor as he came back in.

"Guard the door Captain." Sola said. "I'm going to contact the council and ask for their guidance."

The ship was on autopilot. Their destination was the planet Shimmer—located all the way in the outer rim. The council had the boy answer a few more questions and then told Sola to escort the boy back to his home planet using an authorized shuttle, and to take Rex with her. They would look into the Black Sun activities and the Karazak Slavers' as well—to see if they could find any of the other slaves. They would divert all their strength to it. They had tried to reach the boy's mother but there had been no answer. So off they went.

Rex had put the boy to bed as Sola reclined in the dorm, gazing at the star map patterns on her readout projector. He came in, laying his gun beside his bunk.

"Sir." He said as he sat across from her.

"Yes…" Sola looked away from the readouts. "It's Sola Rex. Sola…we're out of protocol…." She rubbed a hand over her face and leaned forward, elbows on her knees.

"It'll be alright." Rex sighed. "No more horrible than Ryloth…and we're taking him home."

"Yeah…" Sola said slowly. "Just…" She smiles bitterly. "Another political fair…another injustice."

"Yes…but we were lucky that you sensed this or else this would have slipped past us all." Rex pointed out. Sola nodded to him.

"True." She said and sat up straighter before giving a small smile. "Who needs R&R anyway?" To that, Rex chuckled, not even trying to stop himself. Sola laughed along with him. She shook her head, thinking.

"And at least we saved a trip to the Emporium I was thinking of." She added to it, causing Rex's dying chuckles to revitalize. She smiled at the sound of them. Calming. Natural.

"Don't worry." Rex said, a lopsided smile on his face, "plenty of time for practice it seems." He paused. "Good work Commander…Sola…. Today. Handled just as General Kenobi would've."

Sola's smile slowly faded as she gazed at Rex, analyzing his comment. His eyes didn't waver from hers. It touched her…to be compared to the man she admired more than her master, the council, or any hero she'd known. And Rex obviously knew that. Was she that obvious or was he truly trying to appeal to her affections.

Either way, it sent the shadow of a grin to Sola's face.

"That mean a lot to me," she admitted to him. Rex nodded once, his eyes never losing softness but his jaw setting. The words left Sola's mouth before she could reconsider them.

"In reality, I felt more like Skywalker…the way we worked—in tandem." She said this quickly, eyes directed deep into his. "My orders were needed very little…and I had no doubts you would aid me in my attempt."

It was Rex's turn to be speechless for a moment. He cleared his throat and then thought before finally speaking again.

"I wouldn't hesitate to follow you…Commander or no." he said more to his hands than her. Before the tension built up to awkwardness, he also added, "We have saved each other's lives several times now…and if there's anyone besides Skywalker who I'd want to be under…it's you. And I say that…" he looked up at her now "as not just your Captain."

Sola takes her turn to avert her eyes, feeling that familiar shiver run through her shoulder blades at his words. They were devotional, loyal, friendly. They signified their growing friendship. So why was it that she felt as though there was a double meaning? And why did that scare her—if there was one? She was a Jedi. Above such things. Shivers or no.

Rex cleared his throat once more before standing.

"I'm going to change into more durable armor. In case there's trouble." He spoke, walking towards the door.

"Rex." Sola said, having him stop in his tracks. His back to her, his face crumpled then righted as he turned to face her. She eyed him with those eyes again, those eyes that made his lower back hot and the tips of his fingers and toes tingle, making him want to shake. But years of training had him hold his ground. She looked down then back up at him.

"I value your friendship." She said calmly, her face and body so composed and opposite of his shuddering, quivering insides. "Of anyone I could take with me into war…onto Shimmer… anywhere…I am glad that I have you to go with me…. Know that…your devotion is mutually shared by myself."

Rex stood, warming where he felt chills. A small smile escaped him and he nodded at Sola's small smile in return before going to change. As he left, Sola let her shaky breath out finally, her composition falling apart.

The three trekked through the snow, searching for the boy's house in the midst of traffic. They had arrived later than they'd anticipated. And it looked as though a blizzard were forming.

"There…just down this block," Janmin pointed to a small house. They picked up their pace, the night air biting at their faces. Soon, they were at the door and knocked. There was only one light on and no response. After a few seconds, Janmin hesitantly knocked on the door again. There was silence still. Janmin turned to the two protectors, looking fearful.

"My mom should be in…what if something's happened to her!?" he cried. Sola didn't respond but glanced at the house, trying to detect any life forms within. She scanned as far as her affinity to the force would allow and found a presence. She couldn't quite read any emotions but she knew someone was there.

"Behind me." She ordred Janmin, stepping forward to the door and giving it five hard raps. Her gloved hand touched her lightsaber hilt and she glanced back at Rex who nodded through his helmet. Sola moved them to the edges of the door frames but kept herself in sight. After a time, they heard a noise moving tentativelty to the door. Her grip tightened on her lighstaber as she fought to remain calm. The drapes moved slightly before the door was opened slowly.

And in seconds, Sola found herself face to face with—

And old woman.

The woman was blonde with greying hair. She had eyes that looked as though they'd seen many things. She glanced at Sola with no resemblance of fear nor hope. She merely looked puzzled.

"Who are you?" the woman demanded with a voice that didn't match her eyes.

Before Sola could speak, Janmin ran to the woman, wrapping his arms around her. He was nearly her height—the frail thing—but the woman did not mind at all. On the contrary, her eyes bugged out and she started saying the boy's name over and over again. She gripped him and tears came to her eyes—along with life. The two embraced and kissed and she eyed Sola warily.

"I'm Jedi Knight Sola Valda ma'am." Sola introduced herself. "My trooper and I came to see Janmin home safely."

"You…you're a Jedi?" The woman eyed Sola. "You…saved my son?"

"The Slaver organization that kidnapped him is being investigated by the Jedi as we speak ma'am." Sola replied, her face stoic and calm. "We were able to recover him before the Black Sun had him completely. He gave us directions back to you."

"My boy…gone for nearly a month…" the woman kissed the boy once more, eyes flooding. "Oh my son…" She looked to Sola. "Bless you Master Jedi. Thank you…thank you for my son."

"I am more than happy to help, ma'am." Sola nodded her head. "We'll take our leave."

"Bless you…bless you." The woman, so heartbroken and dead moments before was brimming with shock and passion, as the impossible was done for her.

Sola and Rex left the house and embarked back into the cold. The blizzard was nearly in full burst now. Sola blocked her face, pulling out her climate scanner. She checked.

"Oh…bl…" she sighed.

"What's wrong?" Rex asked.

"This blizzard is picking up too fast." Sola said. "Looks like the surface is going to be caked and freeze until morning." She sighed, squinting to look around. "We have to find housing for tonight. I'll look up lodgings near here." Rex nodded, the snow hitting his helmet hard this time. The two, following the static-ing scanner, made their way to a safe place.

The Traveler's Inn welcomed them. They were escorted underground and given keys to one of the last available rooms. Because of the nature of the lodging's housing space shortages, they couldn't offer more than one room to parties below four people.

The room was homey. Nice bed, dressers fine in carving, rug looking as though it belonged in the core worlds. Rex removed his helmet and set it on a bedside table. They'd been provided complimentary night clothing, as this was a "fancier" den—one size fits all depending on which species you specified at the front.

Rex did not move after removing his chest armor. He set it onto the floor near the wall and then just fiddled with it. He tried to stop himself from feeling self conscious but the feeling overtook him. To strip was one thing…but before Sola…was another. Stripping before Sola sent those shivers through him again but more violently this time, to the point where he cringed, covering it as laying his armor to the ground.

"I will dress in the bathroom." Sola said calmly. She picked up one of the night suits and went into the next area, closing the door behind her. Rex let out a breath. He removed the rest of his armor and under-armor clothing and then stepped into his night suit as well (night suits were more formal whereas night dresses were the norm—except for clones). He was used to wearing this kind of night clothing. He dressed and inhaled, moving to sit on the edge of the bed before realizing a dilemma. He did not have long to dwell before Sola came out. Hair down now, she had on the suit as well, buttoned more to her size. Each time he saw her outside her jedi robes… she looked so similar but seemed—softer. More human. He supposed that's what he appeared outside of his armor.

"We should rest. We must leave first thing as soon as we awake tomorrow, stopping only to pick up some sustenance." Sola informed him. Rex nodded. "You can have the bed."

"Oh, no." Rex shook his head, standing. "It's yours. I'm used to not sleeping on them."

"I only sleep on one like this when dealing with the senate." Sola explained her case as well. "In the academy, our beds are in between this and simple cots. I do not need such."

"Well neither do I. And I'd rather you take it." Rex said.

"I appreciate the sentiment." Sola said softly. "But it is unnecessary."

"At your command," Rex said in a defeated tone. "But…as a…friend…I would have you get some rest on the actual bed…Sola." Sola looked away and moved around the edge of the bed to the bathroom once more, this time to wash her face. Rex sighed and sat on the bed, moving the covers back. He sat on the bare space now when Sola came back out.

"If neither of us wants the bed…we shall both sleep on the floor." She said. Rex was taken aback by her statement before scoffing and stripping the bed of covers and making a makeshift bed on the floor.

"It almost defeats the point of what I…feel the argument was about…if you don't mind my saying sir." Rex said, getting into their pseudo-bed.

"We were fighting over who should get the luxury." Sola said simply.

"In the attempt to avoid sleeping beside one another." Rex corrected. As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt the tension again. Borderline odd but more…anxious than that. He saw her calm face break slightly before she looked down to him—as she was still standing.

"It would be more comfortable for the both of us, I felt." Sola said with a tone that didn't match her hardening eyes.

"Of course." Rex commented, but he did not feel agreeable…nor flippant. He almost felt…crazy. Not in the delirious way but in a way that was more rippling. As though he had this charge that had him so fired up, he had to release the energy into something else—through words. "Given our current situation…."

That line did it. He saw it and it was as if a blanket had unwrapped him. Sola's face showed slight surprise but beside that was…fear. Fear and uncertainty.

He was pushing past his position, past his authority, past his own moral ethics—to even feel like he knew he did…and try this with his commanding official…a jedi…crazy. But this sense of… pure individuality and bravery overtook him. Not absence of fear brave…but steadfastness.

And that, while it astounded him…also scared him as much or more than he could see Sola was scared now.

And then her face closed more or less.

"Rex." She spoke bluntly. "I understand your sentiments…but I have sworn my life to the Jedi."

"Yes sir." Rex responded, the forthright justification for his past actions with Sola being dimmed as her tone scolded him. "—Sola, I mean….."

"We have beat around the issue that is presented." Sola said gravely. "And your affections and loyalties are welcomed and deeply appreciated. Yet the manner and severity…cannot remain. I am…above such things…Rex. I am a Jedi and must walk a path without…romance." Her words fell out calmly as though a prepared speech yet they rambled…as though she were trying to remind herself as much as she was trying to inform him.

"I know." Rex said somewhat lowly. "I didn't mean to overstep."

"Our relationship is…professional." Sola said, her tone wavering. "Friendship and loyalty are fine but…if it risks something that would impair us…."

"I have my own allegiances," Rex said slowly, reason washing over him along with rejection though he had proposed nothing. "They are placed first…or only. Always, sir."

"As they should." Sola nodded fervently. Her movements were less composed and twitchier and they screamed out at Rex, reinforcing what he saw: she had feelings for him. She liked him. And he liked her too. Him, a clone, a copy. But, as she had said before, was that all he was? To her, he wasn't expendable….

But reality was cold and hard. She was committed, as he was. A Jedi and a Clone. They were both programmed to serve their own "orders," alone…. Anything less was…betrayal?

"Duty is most important." Rex said finally. "Our minds remain set to purpose."

Sola seemed to like what he said and she nodded slowly, coming toward the makeshift bed. She sat across from Rex before it and crossed her legs.

"Sleep." She said a bit tightly. "Tomorrow, we have a long trip back."