Part IV: "Krell Saves My Life. I Would Rather He Had Let Me Die."
Rex woke up quite suddenly. One moment there was only blackness then he was awake, staring up at the white ceiling and the medical lamp pushed off to the side in his periphery. On the uncomfortable but familiar bed, he lay still and thoughtless for a long time, seeing only the white and smelling disinfectant and bacta mixed with the stench of burnt flesh, not his own.
Slowly he became aware that something was wrong. He was in a GAR Med Bay. The other identical beds, all Clone sized and spotless were empty. The few med droids in that buzzed around were cleaning or resupplying silently. He blinked at the familiar sight but it was still wrong because he wasn't Captain Rex of 501st legion of the Grand Army of the Republic, he was Jaina Emala's Captain Rex Jaig who shot assassins in the streets of Coruscant and yelled at togruta rookies. Rex frowned.
The Med Bay doors opened with a soft hiss and a brother came in, his armor battered but orderly and his hair cut close, only the stylized tattoos he had in place of eyebrows distinguished him from other clones.
"Sir," the clone said, "are you recovered?"
Rex sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. His right leg smarted more than usual but it was bearable. He stood gently and the limb held.
"Yes, I seem to be in one piece," He replied.
"Very good, Captain," the clone nodded. "His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of the First Galactic Empire wishes to speak with you."
"Emperor?"
"The Republic has been reformed into the Empire, Sir. It happened yesterday."
"I see," Rex said, feeling uneasy.
The doors of Med Bay opened once more and a small detail of clones led in a hooded, robed figure. He looked not unlike a Jedi but he was bent forward, hiding in his cowl, shriveled claw like hands poking out of his sleeves held before him. Rex suddenly felt afraid.
Instead of show it, Rex snapped his heals together and saluted like he'd been taught all his life, falling back on what he knew.
"Your Majesty, sir," Rex said, eyes forward and face straight.
"Thank you, Captain. I'm glad to see you're looking well."
Rex made no reply. He focused on his breathing and tried to ignore the smell of decay that hung around the Emperor.
"I heard you were quite helpful in pursuing the traitor, Ahsoka Tano and the information you gave us was instrumental in apprehending her associate, Kenobi, on Coruscant."
"I only do my duty," Rex replied. Ahsoka, traitor, instrumental, the words bounced around in his head with flashes of half remembered scenes like a nightmare. One piece of information stood out, Palpatine, Chancellor made Emperor, was the Sith. Rex suddenly felt naked standing in front of his former Commanding Officer, the highest authority that even now he felt an unyielding loyalty toward that overshadowed any revulsion. Ahsoka had once told him the Force let her sense the feelings of the people around her as if they went around projecting them in an invisible unconscious way. Now all his feelings, love, fear, self-loathing, despair and guilt were laid out for the Emperor to see. So Rex thought of the emotions that he thought the Emperor would look for, he thought of Krell.
He thought of Krell, the traitorous Jedi General who had turned his men against each other, who sabotaged them from the inside, took advantage of their blind trust and abused him and his brothers. That disgust and loathing broiled up inside him. That was what he had to think of Ahsoka, she was the same as Krell. She had to be for those few moments. It was surprisingly easy.
"You were a good soldier, CT-7567. You served under Generals Skywalker and Kenobi for a long time. Your record indicates you learned quite a lot from both of them."
"It was an honor to serve under them, your Majesty."
"Even now that they are traitors to the Empire?"
"No, sir." He said, Anakin and Obi-Wan too became synonymous with Krell and he felt sick with hate. "I failed to recognize them for what they were sooner."
"It is not your fault, Jedi are deceitful and tricky beings. You and your brothers have done a great service to the Empire in eliminating them."
"Thank you, sir," Rex said. He remembered Dogma, the last time that anyone had seen him. Despite it all, despite his own inability to pull that trigger, he was proud of Dogma. It was easy to feel that pride for his brothers now, for taking out the rouge Jedi and protecting their Republic, now their Empire.
"Major Pike has given you quite a stunning recommendation."
"He's very generous, sir."
"No, he is honest. I appreciate honesty in a clone."
"Sir, I did not mean to disagree. I meant only that I am unfit for duty in the GAR."
"You see, honesty. It is a good trait. And you are right, not even I could in good faith return you to your former rank and position but I may have an alternate assignment for you. For it I need clones that I can trust, clones that are honest and loyal to the Empire."
"I am at your disposal, sir."
"Good, good," The Emperor's twisted mouth smiled and his breath hissed out, wreaking of burning death. "I need you to protect my son," the Emperor said, "you will be the Captain of his personal guard and oversee his care as he grows up. Protect him well. Luke is very important to the future of the Empire."
"Yes, your Majesty," Rex heard himself say.
"Very good. Rest well trooper." The Emperor turned and slowly glided with his shadowing guards from the Med Bay. The doors hissed shut again leaving Rex alone.
He collapsed on the hard bed, shaking.
Ahsoka, he thought and his emotions around her warred. Anger, bitterness, resentment fought with grief and guilt. Nowhere in the torrent could he find the affection he remembered feeling for her. Where has it gone? Did I ever love her? Why would I turn on her if I did? Why do I think these things of her? What have I done?
Rex covered his mouth and held back his cries of frustration and grief. Finally surrounded by his brothers again he felt utterly and completely alone. He cried. He cried for losing Ahsoka. He cried for failing to kill her. He cried for his brothers dead at the hands of the Jedi and the Jedi dead by his brothers' hands. He cried in confusion. Finally a Medical Droid approached him, offered him something that Rex took without question. Moments later he was numb. He lay back on the hard familiar bed and stared at the white ceiling, seeing only the white and smelling disinfectant and bacta mixed with the stench of burnt flesh, not his own.
Author's Note: So… not a happy ending. But there is one… If you're interested let me know and I'll post the continuation of this AU. -Ember