Chapter 3: Back in Garrison

The Resolute dropped out of hyperspace after its thirty hour jump from Dantooine. As the Venator class star destroyer made its way through military spacelanes onto the planet's surface, the men aboard hurried to finish their duties, anxious to be released on leave. Captain Rex made is way to the meeting room on the ship's bridge, where he joined Ahsoka Tano, and General Kenobi.

"Thank you for coming, Captain" Obi Wan started. "With Anakin away on a mission from the Chancellor, its been difficult to relay orders to his men."

To be fair, the men of the 501st had picked up on their General's wild and reckless behavior. As had his padawan. "Of course, sir." Rex replied, tilting his head in typical clone fashion, knowing their was more to come.

"I've asked you here because Anakin isn't here to give your men the safety briefing for this week. Your men will be out amongst the civilians and I just wanted to remind them of what they represent." Obi Wan spoke, clearly trying to cover all of his bases before adding the real reason he wanted Rex here.

"But most importantly, please try to keep the fighting at Jaster's down to a minimum. I need all of my men in top shape when we leave next week." Obi Wan finally added, smiling. He'd seen what had happened last time the men of the 501st and the 212th had fought at Jaster's; he was there. Even he liked to get away from life for a while.

"I'll watch over them myself, Sir." Rex said, smiling under his helmet at the memory. He and Cody had at first tried to break it up, but only half heartedly. How their men vented was their own business, and even Cody had thrown a few punches.

"Thank you, Captain. I'm going to give the same speech to Cody and his men. I'll see you planet side." And with that, Obi Wan left the meeting room, leaving Ahsoka and Rex.

Ahsoka had been quietly watching the conversation between Master Kenobi and Rex. She could sense him smiling when Kenobi brought up the fight from last time. She was surprised at how in tune she had become with her Captain. There it was again. Her Captain.

Rex popped the seal on his helmet and removed it, clipping it to his belt. He turned to Ahsoka and noticed she was zoning out, focusing seemingly on a point on the wall behind him. "Commander?" he asked, quizzically. "You alright?" he added, teasingly. He could tell when she was distracted, almost like he could pick up on her emotions even when she wasn't with him.

Ahsoka snapped back to the present. "Yeah, of course I am, Rexie." She said, grinning at the use of her nickname for him. She knew he'd disliked it at first. But it had grown on him.

"So are you going to be going to that bar, Jaster's, or whatever its called?" She asked him, staring, now, at his eyes; waiting for an answer.

"I usually go anyways." Rex added, trying to avert her gaze. "Cody and I enjoy the break from the barracks. Its always good to spend time with the men. You, uh, you could come if you wanted." He added. Why had he added that last part, he thought. Did I just invite her out?

"Me? Go to a bar?" Ahsoka asked, stunned. She was no longer staring into his eyes, now she was the one flustered.

"Actually it's a nightclub" Rex corrected, thinking maybe that would make it better. But that wasn't what she was hesitant about.

Did he just ask me out, Ahsoka asked herself. I want to go, but should I? she looked back at him, and saw the friendliness in his face, and knew she'd been over thinking it.

"I'd love to go." She finally said, giving Rex a smile. "I just have to get away from the temple, but I will see you there. Tonight?" She asked.

Rex was taken aback. "Uh, yes. Uh, We usually get there around 1900." He shot a quick glance at his chrono. "It's usually an all night thing, too" he added. It was 1200 local time.

"Great!" Ahsoka said, her excitement palpable. "I can't wait to see what you and men do in your free time." And with that, her and Rex left the meeting room and headed their separate ways. Each had their own duties to do before the Resolute landed.

Rex opened his comm channel to give send a message to his men about what General Kenobi said to him. "Alright men, Listen up…" he started.

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The Resolute landed on Coruscant around 1300 local time, and its crew busied its self unloading all expended supplies and refitting it for its next mission. Everybody was anxious to start their leave.

Captain Rex, having loaded up his belongings into his duffel bag was headed off the ship to his room in Torrent Company's barracks when he ran into Coric's squad. "Coric, did you get my message about tearing up Jaster's?" he asked, jokingly. Everyone knew that a fight was inevitable.

"Yes, sir." Coric replied, knowing full well that Rex had a tendency to brawl when he'd had too many drinks. "I've passed it on my boys as well. You'll have no trouble from us." He added.

Rex knew he was grinning under his helmet. Hardcase and Jesse alone had started more fights with the 212th than any man in the company. "Sure we won't" Rex said, shaking his head.

"Hey! Captain!" Hardcase came running over, his duffel bag over one shoulder. "Are you coming to Jaster's tonight, Sir?" he asked, knowing his captain was good man to have in a fight.

The rest of the squad came over seeing Coric and Hardcase speaking with Rex. He turned to face them, and then back to Hardcase. "Yeah, somebody has to watch over you men. If you start a fight with out me there, Cody's gonna kick your Shebs in." He replied, enjoying the fact that is men enjoyed his presence with them off duty.

You brining a date this time, Sir?" Hardcase asked. Kix elbowed him, and gave him a look. "What? I'm just asking." He said.

"Not a date." Rex started, "But Commander Tano might be joining us tonight, so be on your best behavior."

The men's jaws dropped. Hardcase's mouth formed began forming a giant grin and he turned to Jesse, who was also smiling widely.

"Its just as, well, friends" Rex defended. "Jedi are not allowed relationships, and its inappropriate to insinuate otherwise." He finished. The men didn't look convinced.

"Sure thing Cap'n" Hardcase joked, knowing that the Captain and Commander were close. Everybody knew. They were inseparable.

"I'm not dealing with this right now!" Rex stormed off, face turning red, contemplating putting on his helmet to hide. He reached the bottom of the boarding ramp and headed to Torrent Company's barracks. 'Was it that obvious?' he thought. But he knew that when you were one in an army of clones, it was impossible to hide anything from your brothers.

"Hey, Rex!" a voice shouted from off to his left. Rex turned to see Commander Cody drop his bag and walk over. "You headed to Jaster's tonight? The boys are get a little antsy for some fun." He said.

Commander Cody, after Ahsoka, was Rex's best friend. Though he technically out ranked him, Cody had always thought of Rex as an equal and Rex respected that. Plus, since the 212th was in such close proximity to the 501st, Rex and Cody had fought most of the war together.

"Of course I am, Vod. Not like me to miss my boys stomp yours in a friendly brawl." Rex joked. He knew Cody had been seeing a girl lately and it was what Rex attributed to his more recent acceptance of his feelings for Ahsoka. "Is Barris meeting you there again?"

"She's gonna be there as soon as she can get away from her master and those boring boys in green." Cody answered, excited at a chance to see her again. "And, hopefully General Kenobi doesn't keep me occupied with conversation. That man can talk when he drinks."

Barris Offee was a Jedi padawan under Master Luminara Unduli, who led the 41st Elite. If Rex remembered correctly, Barris was also a good friend of Ahsoka's. maybe her presence there would help Ahsoka feel more at ease. Besides, if Barris could break the code and date Cody, then Rex had a chance with Ahsoka. Barris was known for her strict adherence to the Jedi code.

"Commander Tano said she'd join us down there" Rex admitted. He wondered if Cody could tell how he felt about her.

"Ahsoka's coming? Great! We should do a double date this week." Cody said, clearly happy with the arrangement.

Rex was thrown off by Cody calling her by her first name. maybe it wasn't so taboo after all. "Is it that obvious?" Rex asked, knowing the truth now.

"Rex, old boy, I think every trooper on the ship knows how much you love that girl." Cody said, happy that they could now discuss what he'd been trying to get Rex to face for months. "This is your chance, take it! I'll see you there tonight! 1900!" and before Rex could say anything, Cody ran back to his bag and headed to the Improcco Company Barracks.

"Fierfek" Rex mumbled. "Better go get ready."

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Rex's room in the barracks on Coruscant was infinitely nicer than his room on board the Resolute. Here he had a slightly bigger bed, and an actual dresser for his civilian clothes and his fatigues. The best part, was he had his own refresher. In any army, a hot shower is a commodity, and a private one even more so.

Rex dropped his bag, and shucked off his armor, placing on a shelf, easily accessible in an emergency. He peeled off his body suit and set is aside to be laundered and set a clean one next to his armor.

Walking into the refresher, he turned on the hot water and let it warm up while he set up his army issue soap in the shelf inside the shower. Taking the time, he ran clippers over the top of his head, evening out his short, blonde hair.

Once the shower was hot he dropped his compression shorts and stepped in, letting the hot water soak into his muscles and rinse off the hairs he just cut.

After he got out, Rex wiped off his mirror and followed his normal routine. He shaved, cleaned his teeth and rinsed his mouth out with a minty mouth wash.

He only owned a small collection of civilian clothes. A single pair of khaki colored slacks made from a rough material topped with one of three shirts was his usual attire. He picked a dark blue one that was close to the 501st's signature color, and through it on. He straightened the collar and wiped the wrinkles out of his sleeves, rolling them up to elbow length.

'Yes' he thought. 'This will have to do.'

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Heron squad busied themselves with getting ready for their night on the town. The five them showered in their platoon's shower bay and each took to their own ritual for date night. Hardcase, ever vigilant about the state of his hair was shaping it to perfection, while Jesse watched, happy he'd decided to shave his head some months ago.

They all finished relatively quick and reminded Hale that they still had to stop and get him something nice to wear. His usual attire of a straight red shirt over white slacks wouldn't do, and his army issue fatigues definitely wouldn't do.

Hardcase threw him so pomade. "Put this in your hair, Vod. Ladies love it"

Hale looked down at the jar. It smelled strongly of something he couldn't identify, but he had to admit it was rather appealing. He scooped some of it out and rubbed his hands together. He ran his hands through his hair, spiking his hair up and forward, the way he'd seen Fives wear his.

"You guys almost ready to leave?" Coric asked, pulling on boots that went underneath his wide bottomed pants, made out of a similar material to Rex's. "I'd like to still get to Jaster's at 1900."

"Yeah, I'm ready." Hale said, excited to see how the night would go. He had a good feeling about it and things were looking up.

"Alright, let's go" Hardcase said, and let the entourage out of the room.

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Block 3F was the best place to find clothes in the latest fashion. It was also on the way to the entertainment district where Jaster's sat. Russi's Retail Clothing was a chain shop that was nestled between two larger designer emporiums on the block. Heron squad headed in and drug Hale around the shop, each man selecting articles of clothing that they thought would win him Vikki's heart.

When they'd finished, Hale had a pile of discarded clothing at his feet and an impressive looking outfit in his hands. Keeping his original boots, Jesse had found a pair of pants that were a light brown and fit over his boots. Kix had found a short sleeve collard shirt with stripes running down it.

"Iris says vertical stripes make you taller" Kix said, admiring the shirt as he held it up to Hale's torso. "You look good in stripes." He added, nodding his head approvingly.

"Yes, I can see it" Coric added, agreeing with the shirt and pants they'd selected. "I think you should buy them, Hale."

"You think so?" Hale asked, holding them clothes to his body and looking in a mirror. "I do like them."

"Come on, Di'kut" Hardcase joked, "They look great, we're gonna be late if you don't hurry." He picked up the discarded clothing and set it aside for the workers to put back on the racks.

"Alright" Hale said, clearly sold on the outfit. "He threw the shirt and pants over his arm and headed to check out. His brothers followed behind him, pleased to be finally on their way to Jaster's.

Hale changed into his new outfit, putting his fatigues in the bag that the cashier had given him, and folded it up, handing it to Coric to stuff into his cargo pocket. The boys strode purposefully the remaining few blocks to the entertainment district. After weeks of fighting on Dantooine, the men couldn't help laughing at the fact that they now had a week off to enjoy themselves, and tonight was the start of it.