Twenty Five
"This is your friendly flight attendant. Make sure you check your overhead locker for any loose items that may have moved during takeoff and landing. Thank you again for flying GAR Air."
"Broadside! Last I saw you ner vod, you were heaving your guts all over some pretty Twi'lek," Jesse laughed.
"You're full of it Jesse," was the pilot's happy reply.
"On my mark gentlemen." Rex said gruffly, snapping the men back into line.
The cargo hold light flicked to green.
"Happy hunting boys," Broadside yelled down the comm as Rex and his team ploughed out into the atmosphere of Malastare.
###
Rex surveyed the enemy as they took position ready for the onslaught of metal soldiers.
"That's a – lot – of clankers," Rex breathed as he surveyed the area with his macro binoculars.
"OK, all we have to do is hold them back until the fly boys decide to drop the bomb. Are we clear?"
He could sense the growing anxiety of his men as they too looked at the impossibly large contingent of Separatist soldiers lining up to fight. The new electro-proton bomb was guaranteed to immobilise anything mechanical, and considering the army in front of them, Rex sure hoped that HQ had it right.
"The thought of this bomb gives me a hard on," Hardcase said longingly down the comm.
"Steady on soldier," the Captain replied, smiling in his bucket, he too, loved the idea of blowing things up, especially clankers.
Lots of clankers.
Rex without thought tapped his left glove. It had become a new habit. Jesse saw this quick act of emotional intimacy from his Captain. He had seen Rex look at the image and feed it back into his gauntlet on Orto Plutonia. It was fleeting, gone within a second, but acknowledged none the less.
"Rex this is Skywalker, it appears the Sep's are on the move."
"Copy that, General. We'll hold them back as long as we can."
"Good luck Captain."
"Thank you Sir."
"OK boys, you heard the General. This is it."
Red blaster fire from the Separatist army signified the beginning of the battle.
Rex and a handful of the five hundred and first stood their ground, aiming at the droids as they continually marched forward, where one fell another would continue on. They were metal, mechanical soldiers, devoid of personalities, unafraid of death and would do as programmed.
However they were different from the wet droids they faced, they had no one covering their back, no brother to help them up when they fell, no tears or words of remembrance when they were deactivated.
It was beginning to get to Rex. The rationale behind their existence.
Even though both armies had been created to fight, surely the Republic couldn't compare them as equal? How can human beings be considered the same as robots made from metal?
"Nice shot Sir," Hardcase commented as Rex took down another B1.
'Eight,' he thought as he kept up the rapid fire from his twin blasters. "Just hold the line men."
'Come on Generals, drop the bomb,' he thought as he watched his men begin to fall around him, 'drop the kriffing bomb!'
"We've got spiders inbound!" Rex yelled as they watched the grotesque metal arachnids march towards them.
Rex watched helplessly as Dug's together with his men fell victim to the sheer overwhelming number of the enemy.
"Heads up, vultures at eleven o'clock," Hardcase alerted the others in his group. "Where's that bomb Sir, we could sure do with some help."
"Damn fly boys, late again," Jesse commented, popping another two droids.
"They always like to make an entrance," Hardcase answered back as he let the rotary loose.
"Hold on men, just a few minutes more." Rex glanced upwards not only to look for vultures, but to mentally will the damn airborne contingent to move in.
That's when they heard the comforting sound. The screaming of the jet engines as the fighters flew over in formation diverting the Sep's attention skyward.
They watched as the bomb was released and hit the ground. A brilliant light lit up the dark sky as the proton blast left the epicentre and radiated towards them.
The droids fell immediately, everything rendered immobile.
Rex quickly grabbed his helmet, but was too late to release it off his head, the effect of the electronic immobilisation bomb wreaking havoc with his heads up display. Every soldier succumbed to the same plight.
Their helmets screaming data, and sending a crippling noise through their ear pieces.
It was over momentarily.
Rex looked over at the junk yard lying in front of him.
Then the sound that sent a chill through his entire body.
A second underground explosion had produced a massive sink hole disseminating from the centre of the initial blast.
"Run for it," he yelled, "fall back. All men, fall back NOW!" Rex ordered, turning and waving his arms at his men to do the same.
They ran, racing against the elements fury.
Scrambling forward, Rex made it just in time as the ground beneath him gave way, Hardcase grabbing his pauldron and pulling him to safety.
"That was close Sir."
The Captain nodded his thanks.
"Torrent Company call in," Rex barked down the comm link.
###
The blast had inadvertently stirred up an initially thought extinct creature from the Dug's past.
Standing a resounding ninety six metres in length, the ancient Zillo beast was apparently eliminated over the history of Malastare.
Or so it seemed.
Caught between the Chancellors plan to obtain a treaty with the Dug's therefore securing the fuel reserves of Malastare, and the Jedi's moral conscious regarding the annihilation of a species, Master Windu was at odds with his training. It was only the quick thinking of Republic scientist Sionver Boll and young Skywalker that meant all sides could be satisfied.
###
'This is not going to end well,' Rex shook his head, watching the enormous, presumed dead animal being lifted off the planet's surface by several Larty's.
"Have you seen anything like that before?" Hardcase asked his Captain as they made their way back to the transport.
"No, Hardcase, I haven't. But then again, this war isn't over yet," he grunted as he helped lift one of his injured brothers on board.
The engine started up as he strapped the soldier on one of the bench seats and sat down heavily next to him. Rex removed his helmet, placing it between his knees he pulled something sharp out of his utility belt.
"Hey Hardcase. What was my final count?"
"Seventeen Sir."
Rex laughed, and began scratching new marks on either side of his vambrance, lost in his task as he bounced around with his brothers, heading back to Ground Zero.
Heading back to her.
###
"Welcome back Captain."
Kix was in the med bay and was relieved to see his Captain and two of his friends bringing in the walking wounded.
"Hey Kix, you missed a good party buddy," Hardcase commented as he sat an injured brother on a spare bed. The wounded soldier had a blast burn to the shoulder and grunted as Hardcase lowered him down roughly, "sorry ner vod," he said absently.
"Yeah, it sure looks like it," he said rolling his eyes and looking around at the next wave of injured men to be triaged. "I hear we lost Trapper? Is that right."
"Elek, haven't heard officially yet." Jesse was lifting a plasticup of water up to another troopers mouth for a drink, "and thanks to Windu, they've brought the kriffing creature back here."
"Jesse!" Rex was listening and didn't like his men talking randomly about the Jedi.
He knew it was a mistake to bring the animal back and not destroy it as the Dug's had wanted, but it wasn't up to them to pass judgement, just follow orders.
Rex didn't understand the reasoning of the Jedi. The armour impenetrable by light sabre, he wondered what they could possibly gain from having such an animal at the Republic and Senate Headquarters.
They left the med bay, heading through the corridors of the GAR back to their barracks, the refreshers and food.
Other men parted as the odour from the fuel used to sedate the animal hung heavy on their armour. Just the sight and sound of the blue and white marching through the barracks was intimidating.
###
"I'm having two showers at once," Jesse announced.
"You know the rules ner vod," Hardcase commented as he sat down on his bunk, pulling out a cloth with a small jar of grease and began to disassemble his deece.
"Why don't you disassemble yourself before you start on that Hardcase, we all reek," Jesse unclipping his armour and removing the top part of his body suit said.
"In a minute," Hardcase answered absently. He had a ritual he followed. He always cleaned his weapon before he cleaned himself. Often he would be the last to hit the refresher, then the Mess and finally falling into his cot after lights out. But his weapon was pristine, and that was what was most important to him.
Jesse on the other hand couldn't wait to wash off the war.
Being clones, he was more than happy to strip down and head to the 'fresher naked flinging a towel over his shoulder as he walked. He would have one shower and then wait the obligatory two minutes and start it up again. No one ever said anything, it was his ritual, and only if there was another brother waiting did he relinquish it.
Scrubbed and fresh, Jesse walked back into the barracks, the towel casually tied around his waist. He had shaven and felt good, ready to dress, eat then hit the cot for some much needed sleep. Hardcase had completely cleaned his deece and was beginning to strip down when he entered.
"Finally! You want me to save you a seat in the Mess?"
"Lek, I won't be long." Hardcase picked up his kit and stopped.
Turning he looked at Jesse.
"What?" Jesse was naked again, pulling a clean bodysuit out of his trunk.
"Have you ever thought about," he stopped, "it doesn't matter." Hardcase looked down, shaking his head and began to leave.
"Hardcase, wait." Jesse could sense something was up. "Sit down, talk vode."
Hardcase rather reluctantly sat back on his cot. He was tired, and the smell from the fuel starting to make him nauseous.
"It's just, have you ever thought about, you know, being with someone?"
"I'm with someone all the time, look around, we are never alone ner vod," Jesse joked.
"You know what I mean, Jesse." Hardcase was serious.
Jesse knew exactly what his friend meant.
"Have you ever been with a woman Hardcase?" Jesse softened.
"No, and neither have you!" He replied defensibly.
"That's by choice brother," Jesse laughed as he slapped his friend's back. "Come on, hit the 'fresher and let's talk about this more when we've both had something to eat."
Jesse began to dress and watched as Hardcase quietly got up and headed out of the room.
Blowing out a long breath, Jesse thought about what Hardcase was asking.
They had all seen their Captain and the politician kiss the night in the Bunker and they had figured he had spent most of that furlough, and others at the Representative's accommodation.
The relationship the Captain was having had quietly destabilised the tightly knit group. They were fit, young men, full of testosterone and Mandolorian blood.
With renewed purpose, Jesse finished putting on his fatigues and waited for Hardcase to come out.
"Ner vod," he said as a cheeky grin crept across his face, "I have a plan."
###
He slipped in between the covers silently, surprised that she hadn't roused at his arrival. She looked peaceful, her hands gently cradling her face.
She stirred.
"K'uur, it's really late, sleep." Rex leaned forward and gently kissed her head.
"You smell funny," she muttered, not even opening her eyes. Gem knew he was there; a calm had descended on the apartment.
"Yeah, I know," he whispered as he too fell into a heavy, restful sleep.
##
She awoke to an empty bed and the aroma of freshly brewed caf.
It tantalised and lingered in the room, wafting and cajoling her to alight and join him in the lounge. Lifting her head off the pillow and placing her feet on the floor, the smell caught in her throat and mixed with light-headedness, sent her racing to the refresher.
He was alone at the table working when he heard the sound.
The pattering of feet, which made him smile and look up from the data pad. Then the tortured sound of muscles heaving, fluid splashing followed by the wretched coughing.
"Gem?" Rex moved fast out of the chair to the 'fresher, catching a glimpse of her feet on the tiles before she hit the electronic button that sent the door shooting closed in front of him.
###
"You look like hell," he smiled and walked slowly over to her.
"You smell like hell," she reciprocated.
He opened up his arms and she fell into them, her entire weight held by his capable body.
Rex kissed her head and stroked her back.
"You OK?"
"Yes. Sorry about that," she moved her head to rest on his chest. He gently swayed her back and forth, rocking her slowly as he held her.
Gem motioned to move out from his grasp and headed towards the kitchen. Rex followed and stood up against a cupboard as she took a glass down from a cabinet.
"What's up?" He was giving her time to tell him what was going on. He knew better than to rush her into conversations.
"Nothing. I have had some stomach bug for the past two days. Everyone in the Senate has had some sort of variation of it, my turn I guess. I feel fine now. Where they send you this time?"
He knew what she was doing. Deflecting the conversation, changing the subject, and to be honest, he didn't mind in the slightest. He was home and she looked good.
"Malastare. I'll tell you about it later. Right now," he said, moving forward and taking her arm, "I feel like a shower. Coming?"
Gem smiled and allowed him to lead the way, back into the refresher where things got considerably dirty before they got clean.
###