Obi-Wan bent down grabbing a handful of soil, letting it drop down below, letting it catch into the breeze. Eying some of the curious tracks last night circling around the farm from the night before. The freshest tracks had come closer, they weren't animal tracks, they looked humanoid, but the indents from how most humanoids shift their weight were wrong. Rubbing his chin he turned to Rex who was just behind him scanning the horizon.
"Droids, it has to be." Obi-Wan said matter of factly
"I agree sir, they're definitely tracking us. Rather, they're tracking me."
"Question is Rex, why haven't they attacked?"
Scratching his scalp, Rex looked agitated, "I have a bad feeling about this"
Obi-Wan nodded in the affirmative, he too had a similar feeling. "If this the separatists, this isn't their style."
Rex agreed, "I don't like it, clankers being stealthy like it, rubs me the wrong way"
Obi-Wan nodded in the affirmative, "nothing good will come out this, but we can't stay around and wait to see who is spying on us."
Obi-Wan walked over to a large rock, sitting on it and squinting his eyes at the rising sun. "You must have some reason as to why you're being followed."
"They're tracking us, I can't make out why they haven't attacked up yet."
"I think I know why," Rex said under his breath.
After a short pause, Rex started, "The reason I left the 501st wasn't just because of Fives. After I removed my chip, I think I must've triggered some sort of investigation."
"I thought you were careful Rex?" Obi-Wan asked.
A humourless snigger emanated from Rex's mouth, "Yeah, well I thought I was careful too."
"General Skywalker got a message from Admiral Yularen saying that he had to leave immediately to attend a matter in another sector, or something. I couldn't make it out."
"Who replaced Anakin?"
"That's the thing Sir, no one did." Rex replied.
Obi-Wan made a puzzled look, unsure as to how to reply.
"That's what we all thought too, but we figured our army is stretched real thin, and the Jedi, even thinner. It was a simple job, find any remaining separatist holdouts and remove them."
Rex bent down to grab a handful of sandy earth and rolled it around his hand and watched it fall through his fingers. "But something was wrong. I should have known, or if I were a Jedi, sense it."
Obi-Wan crossed his arms, and looked over at the horizon, thinking.
There's a lot of things we should have sensed Rex.
He thought that removing the Sith Lord that Count Dooku had warned of years ago, along with the mechanical general Grievous would alleviate the darkness surrounding the galaxy, but watching the former Captain of the 501st pacing around madly made Obi-Wan doubt that their troubles were over.
"It was sunset, we all decided to make camp. We hadn't found any Seppies, so I got to sleep pretty quickly. But I kept hearing rustling so I grabbed my blasters. I tell you, I'm lucky I did."
Rex closed his eyes, Obi-Wan could sense that Rex was in great pain thinking about that night. "It was Jesse. He had a...dead look in his eyes. I can't explain it. Damnit, the fact that MY men could be used against me."
"Rex, what do you mean?" Obi-Wan asked Rex.
"Someone, activated the biochip in Jesse's head to attack me."
Looking visibly stunned, Obi-Wan dropped his arms, his mouth agape, "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. He had tried to slit my throat while I slept like a...like a."
"Rex it wasn't his fault," Obi-Wan took Rex's shoulder firmly.
"I know Sir. It's just...why did it have to be my own men?"
Rex sat on the ground, staring at the sky. "I guess then they've sent someone else to finish the job. I couldn't kill Jesse, I couldn't. I ran, I just ran away, like a coward."
Obi-Wan knelt down on his knees and turned Rex to face him, "You are not a coward Rex. A coward wouldn't have accepted the risk to free yourself, and a coward wouldn't have refused to harm his comrade if he didn't have to."
"What I don't understand, is if Palpatine, Dooku and Grievous are dead, who is ordering these men to track you Rex?"
Rex shook his head, "I don't know Sir."
"Come on, let's go in." Obi-Wan gestured to the door.
"Are you sure you have to go?" Cut asked as he handed over a small bundle of wrapped food from the kitchen. Rex sighed and picked up a rucksack, "I really don't want to put you all in danger, again" Jek and Shaeeah ran from the kitchen into Rex's arms.
"Are you leaving us now?" Jeg asked.
Bending down towards the children's level Rex looked at the two, "Yep, I got an important mission now."
Shaeeah frowned, "Are you leaving for...forever?" Rex looked into her eyes, "Not forever, but a long time." Rex stood up straight, and arched his back. "Ready Sir?"
Obi-Wan nodded, "Thank you both for your hospitality, it was greatly appreciated"
"Anything for friends of mine, right Suu?" Cut smiled, and crossed his arms
"Right," Suu, then softening her face, walked to hug Rex, "take care of yourself Rex, don't trust anyone."
"Thanks Suu,"
"And Obi-Wan?"
"Yes?"
Suu looked into Obi-Wan's eyes with one hand on her waist, "Things are going to get worse before they get better, be prepared."
Obi-Wan nodded, "Trust me, I know."
Cut grabbed Rex's arm before he turned to leave, "We may not be part of the same legion, but we're brothers me and you. If you ever need me, I have your back."
"I know." Rex closed his eyes before exhaling, "I know you do. But I can't put your wife and kids in harm's way."
Cut smiled with a deep sadness and saw the two off on their way.
Obi-Wan waved goodbye to the homestead, and headed off towards town. "R4, I need you to contact a friend."
Obi-Wan looked at Rex, "Contact Hondo"
"Sir?" A serious panic spread over Rex's face/
"Well we can't contact the Republic fleet now can we?"
A nervous look was shared between the both of them, as they set off on the hoverbike. Rex may have fought several battles, faced monsters that children only dare dream of in nightmares, but Hondo still rubbed him the wrong way.
It was a short trip on the hoverbike to Obi-Wan's Eta-2. Rex was still skeptical, "Hondo Sir?"
Obi-Wan sighed, "I'm sure Hondo would find all this terribly funny, but we need a way off this planet and without alerting the Republic. We don't know who could possibly still be behind all this."
"Agreed Sir, but Hondo?" Obi-Wan laughed and put his hand on his hip, "I know, but he's all we got right now."
A quick ping alerted the two towards the communicator, and Hondo appeared through the Eta-2's communicator, hands on his waist, he moved to move his goggled off his eyes, "Obi-Wan Kenobi! What a surprise. You know what I said to myself this morning?"
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and sighed, "No, what did you think this morning."
"Ah ha! I haven't seen my Jedi friends in so long and now! Here you are." His eyes scanned the area, "Where is your friend, Skywalker?
"Couldn't make it."
"Aaah, that's too bad." Hondo pouted,
"Indeed, Hondo, we need a lift and we need it to stay quiet."
Hondo put his weight on one leg, and cocked his head slightly, "Oh...what is this? You? You in trouble now Kenobi?"
"Something like that," waving the thought.
Hondo put his hands behind his back and rolled onto his tip toes, "very well, you owe me Kenobi."
"Agreed." Obi-Wan was no fan of being in debt, especially to a pirate like Hondo, but after years of being the Padawan to such a rogue like Qui-Gon Jinn and Master to a Padawan like Anakin...Obi-Wan certainly had a wide variety of eclectic friends.
Hondo was much faster to arrive than either Obi-Wan or Rex expected and soon Hondo's saucer shaped craft let down its landing ramp, and on the top was Hondo, standing akimbo. He shouted down to Obi-Wan, "Hondo's come to save the great General Kenobi!"
Obi-Wan mumbled something inaudible under his breath that Rex almost caught, "Sir?"
Rolling his eyes, Obi-Wan replied, "Forget it Rex, our ride is here."
After putting the Eta 2 in the cargo hold of the frigate, Obi-Wan turned to Hondo. "I do appreciate this Hondo, you'll get your reward when we land." Hondo guffawed and loudly slapped Obi-Wan on the back, "Anything for friends right Kenobi? Who's the sour face? Aah, you're a clone. I should have known, the similarity is uncanny."
Rex clenched his teeth, "Rex, my name is Rex."
"Of course you are, Rex," Hondo replied.
Obi-Wan gestured to the doorway, and let Hondo lead them out of the hold into the command area. "So tell me Kenobi, why the secrecy. Tell your old friend Hondo."
Obi-Wan thought of many deceptions he could tell Hondo that could be true from a certain point of view. But instead he thought on it, and decided to take a page out of Count Dooku's book and simply tell Hondo the truth.
"Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, Palpatine was a Sith lord who had corrupted the senate, who I believe was behind the creation of the Clones, and installed biochips in order to control them against their will. Rex here removed his and we believe has been targeted for assassination by someone who must have worked for Palpatine."
Hondo's eyes widened, "So...busy then?"
"From a certain point of view, yes."
It was rare for Hondo to be speechless so he instead led them into a large common room.
Hondo took a seat at a circular table, surrounded by well worn chairs that were probably soaked in a Corellian Ale or two. Both Obi-Wan and Rex took note that Hondo's crew was giving them a wide berth, whispering amongst themselves. Hondo gestured for them to sit, which they did, and he snapped his fingers, "What does it take to get some service around here?" Quickly a Weequay woman came by with a tray with cups and some sort of wine. "Drink?"
Obi-Wan and Rex shared a glance, Hondo spoke again, "No hard feelings that I tried to poison you last time right?" Obi-Wan and Rex both rolled their eyes in unison and downed their cups of wine in a single gulp. "Ahh, there you go," Hondo replied. Rex kept looking around the room at the Weequay crew, "They aren't used to seeing Jango's old face walking around, you see." Hondo said to Rex. "I'm not really used to it myself. He and I were, how you say...friends." Hondo turned in his seat towards Obi-Wan, "Things are going to get bad my friend. I can feel it, my crew can feel it. I'm sure you can to. I know you and I have had our differences..."
"Like when you boarded a ship of Jedi Younglings and attempted to steal their Kyber crystals and kidnapped Ahsoka?"
Hondo gave his ubiquitous laugh, "Yes, you know how it is. One day you're friends, the next," his voice became deeper and almost sad, "the next, you're not."
Rubbing his forehead, "Where is Ahsoka, I haven't seen her in a long time"
Obi-Wan paused, and reflected on how to answer, "She...left the order."
Hondo nodded his head, "That's too bad, too bad. She...had spirit."
"Yeah, yeah she did."
Obi-Wan found it curious that even a pirate like Hondo must have noticed the oncoming darkness engulfing the galaxy. He supposed that Sith Lords must be a dampener for profit, but there was something deeper behind Hondo's eyes, something sad. He didn't have time to pry, nor did he figure it was his business and he was getting tired. He hadn't slept well on Saleucami, or on his Eta-2, Obi-Wan stood up, his head slightly dizzy with drink. "I need, to lie down." Hondo gestured to a pod just off to port where he could close the door and sleep. "Sleep Kenobi, you'll need it."
Obi-Wan laid his head down to rest his eyes, being more tired than he believed he quickly slumbered. His mind drifted off to a darker place, filled with colours of the setting sun, oranges, and reds. He began to become restless and in his dreams he heard sounds of fighting, and could smell a repugnant smell of sulphur. Obi-Wan grimaced in his sleep and slowly the sounds became clearer.
You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them. You were to bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness.
I hate you!
You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.
Obi-Wan's eyes flew open, his hair wet with sweat. Unsure of how long he had fallen asleep he raced out of the room. He needed to get planetside as soon as possible. He just had a bad feeling, and he couldn't shake it.