Ch 9: The Rescue
Rex was having a relatively peaceful sleep when his mind was suddenly invaded. He saw Ashoka screaming out his name. Then she was gone. Rex knew that it couldn't be just a dream. Ashoka had made contact but this wasn't like any of the other times. Ashoka was terrified. Suddenly, before he had a chance to realize what was going on visions started flashing in Rex's head.
There were visions of people. One Rex recognized immediately from Ashoka's memories, Brutus. Then there were visions of a planet, a continent, a forest, and finally a base descised to look like a cave. After that there was a prison cell and Ashoka was in it! She was chained to a wall. Then Rex saw a dark figure start to walk towards her. She screamed out as the man stepped closer.
Rex woke with a start after that. He check his surroundings, he was in his bed, in his room. Then Rex realized that this had been the vision he had been waiting for. He knew where Ashoka was and could save her! But Rex also realized that she was in mortal danger. He jumped out of bed and hurriedly put on his armor.
He ran out of his room and sprinted towards Anikin's room. When he reached the door Rex started pounding on it.
"Alright! Alright I'm coming!" Anikin shouted from inside the door. Rex stopped banging on the door long enough for the General to open it. When Anikin opened the door and saw Rex he was visibly confused.
"Rex? What are you-"
"No time General, I know where Ashoka is!" Rex said impatiently. Anikin's expression changed immediately.
"Where?"
"Planet Tran, outer rim system of Nall. They're holding her in a base that is discussed as a cave in the East forrest." He said hurriedly. Anikin nodded and COMed the Admiral.
"We'll be there in an hour." the Admiral replied confidently. Rex hopped he was right. With that Anikin turned off the COM.
"I'll go tell Obi-wan. You need to go back to sleep." Anikin said.
"General wait, I think they're going to kill her." Rex said worriedly.
"Why do you say that?" He asked seriously.
"Sir I can't, I don't know how to explain it. I didn't actually see them kill Ashoka but...I had a vision. It came after Ashoka made contact. I saw a lot things. Women in chains. Arapido members. The location of where their base is and where they are holding Ashoka. Then I caught a glimpse of..a man killing Ashoka. It hasn't happened yet but, General Skywalker what if I don't get there in time?" Rex confessed his deepest fear.
"Rex look I know what you're going through. Believe it or not I really do know what you're going through. Rex we're going to save her. You are going to save Ashoka." Anikin said before running off to find Obi-wan, who had gone to get a drink of water not long before Rex had come in.
Rex wasn't sure how General Skywalker could understand what he was going through. Was it possible that Anikin had someone that he cared about just as much as Rex cared about Ashoka? He didn't know. He decided to ignore that bit of the conversation, at least until a later date.
Rex went back to his room. At first he tried to connect with Ashoka but something was keeping him from her. He was worried about her. He decided to try and come up with some sort of plan to rescue her. But Rex was too distracted. He found himself wondering through the halls.
Rex couldn't help but think of what he was going to do after they got Ashoka back. He had been so focused on just getting her back that he hadn't been thinking about what they would do after she was back. She'd need a lot of help with her rehabilitation. Anikin was convinced that Ashoka would need to leave the Order. That was okay with Rex, in fact with the Order out of the way he and Ashoka were free to do what ever they wanted to. Well Ashoka was at least, Rex was still stuck in the GAR.
Rex wondered what Ashoka would say to him when he found her. Would she thank him? Would she scream at the sight of a man? Would she jump into his arms and kiss him? Would Ashoka say that she lov-no. Rex wouldn't even consider it at this point.
He found himself in the control room. Anikin and Obi-wan were there. They were no longer talking in hushed whispers. And this time they didn't notice as Rex walked up behind them.
"Anikin be reasonable. Rex is in no condition to go into battle, let alone a rescue mission that could very easily turn into a hostage situation." Obi-wan said harshly.
"Master, Rex just wants to rescue Ashoka." General Skywalker argued back.
"That's the exact reason he shouldn't be sent in. He won't be concerned about anyone else but Ashoka. I'm willing to wager that Rex would have no care for his own life let alone any of us." Obi-wan said darkly.
"Sir with all due respect I don't care what you say. I'm going after Ashoka." Rex said angrily behind them.
"My point exactly." Anikin said nodding at Rex.
"But Anikin-"
"No Obi-wan he needs this." Anikin said dryly. General Kandobi sighed.
"Very well." He said as he turned to walk out.
"Thank you Sir." Rex said to Anikin.
"No problem Rex. I know how much you care about Ashoka, just treat her right okay?" Anikin said with a weary expression.
"Yes Sir." Rex said as they walked towards the hanger bay.
An hour later the large rescue team was making their way towards the opening of a cave. It was just like in the vision. Rex had to fight against himself not to just run ahead of the team. 'You cant go rushing in there. You'd just put her in more danger.' he told himself. The last thing he wanted was for Ashoka to be hurt.
It didn't take long for them to run into the first guards. After that everything was a blur to Rex. It went from the first Arapido falling dead to the girls in terrible conditions, many whom were chained to the walls or floors. Fights, killing, screaming. Some girls thanked them while others cowered away from the group.
Then he came upon a cell that looked like Ashoka's. There was a girl in there but no Ashoka.
"Please, do you know where Ashoka is?" Rex asked desperately. The girl eyed him wearily.
"Please, I love her!" Rex pleaded.
"Is your name Rex?" She asked.
"Yes." He replied with a slight nod of his head.
"She says your name in her sleep." The cat girl said.
"I have to find her."
"Brutus took her to his quarters in one of the branch tunnels. Follow this corridor and take a left at the crossroad. Follow that until you reach a large room with archways. Go through the one with Brutus scratched over the arch way."
"Thank you. Someone come tend to the young woman! Make sure she isn't injured!" Rex hollered to one of his brothers.
He and a group of brothers followed the girl's instructions and found the large room. The others went of in twos or threes to the other archways. Rex however went alone into the one labeled 'Brutus' his brothers understanding that he had to go in alone.
Next time on Connected:
Rex rushed further into the cave.
The body slumped, lifeless.
"I don't think I could bear it."
Anikin stood up and walked out of the room.
Chapter Ten: Brutus' Death
Okay I've not been on fanfiction in for ever! So with all these chapters kind of sitting around on my computer and a little free time I decided to post all of the ones I've made.
