Chapter Thirty-Nine: Rex's Interlude
When Rex first deserted the Imperial Army, he spent the first few years continually looking over his shoulders. Keeping out the sight of his brothers who hadn't been lucky enough to get their control chips removed. But the further removed from the clone wars that he'd gotten, the more confident he'd become that the Imperial Army wasn't worried about finding him. Unsurprising given that the Imps and their Emperor decided the clones had outlived their usefulness and decommissioned the clone program. Couldn't say he was terribly upset about the latter. Let the Imps use their own people as cannon fodder to enforce their Empire. But hearing that his brothers had been "phased out" gave him concerned.
It was one of those benign phrases the Republic and the Kaminoans used to hide something more sinister from the broader public that might give a damn. While the chips had been overwhelmingly effective in overriding the free will of his brother to execute the Jedi, they hadn't been as effective in keeping the clones sane in the aftermath. There had been many with wills strong enough that they tried to fight the chips, even as it eventually forced them to kill their Jedi generals. Some of them put their own blasters to their heads to put themselves out of their misery. They were counted in the number of clones that were "phased out."
Something must have changed, though. As indicated by the arrival of Imperial troopers showing up at one of the old safety outposts he'd been hiding out in. And not just any Imperial troopers, but the elite ones that belonged to Darth Vader.
Rex didn't know much about the man. Rumors said that he was little more than an advanced cyborg or some species that had special breathing requirements, hence the conspicuous life support suit. What Rex did know for sure was that the man was a Sith, given the title of "Darth," which made sense since the man had personally marched on the Jedi Temple when the order to murder the Jedi went out. He also knew the man folded what remained of his brothers into his own elite Imperial Legion—Vader's Fist as they were called.
The only reason he could think that Vader was personally coming after him and wanted him alive was that he wanted to use him to help wage another war—the continuation of a war that had never really ended. His contacts told him about the different rebellions around the galaxy rising up to fight the Empire, but there was one, in particular, that seemed to be gaining headway toward outright fighting the Empire. The Rebel Alliance, led by their mysterious but very military tactically competent leader, the Fulcrum. He'd thought about joining up with them, but he was tired of fighting wars that he had no stakes in for other people. He had every intention of telling Darth Vader that too, along with the fact that he'd never fight for the man that was personally responsible for the extermination of his Jedi generals. Skywalker. Tano. Kenobi. All murdered by his hand, and if not directly, he was still responsible for it. Him and Chan—Emperor Palpatine.
They would probably be Rex's last words. Another thing he knew about Darth Vader was his reputation for killing men that refused him and blatantly disobeyed his authority.
After a long walk from the shuttle that brought him to the man's destroyer, he was roughly dragged into an office with two troopers posted on either side of the door and dropped into a seat. Rex had learned a long time ago that there was no use trying to get his other brothers to rebel, not with those chips in their heads. Thus, he ignored the ones posted inside the door.
The temperature in the room dropped, and Rex knew Darth Vader had arrived long before the door behind him opened and he heard the distinct mechanical sound of the man's breathing. The next moment, Vader crossed the room and sat across from Rex on the other side of his desk. The man observed him silently through the black lenses of his mask for a few moments before he spoke.
"You no longer need those," Vader said, his head nodding to the cuffs around Rex's wrists. In the next second, they opened, allowing Rex to release his wrists.
He was partly tempted to try to make a break from the room, but he wasn't stupid. He'd seen what his general had been able to do, and Skywalker had been known as one of the most powerful—if not the most powerful—Jedi in their ranks. If he'd fallen to Darth Vader, Rex stood no chance.
Without any preamble, including no mention of the fact that Rex had deserted and was technically a traitor, Vader said, "Commander Rex, I have a job for you."
"If it's being part of your ranks to wipe out the remains of the Jedi generals or fight whatever new war is brewing, I'm gonna have to respectfully decline, sir," Rex said bluntly.
A sound came through the voice modulator that Rex thought might have been a scoff or a snort on anyone else.
"I hardly need your assistance for either of those things. Your job will be of a much more stressing and headache-inducing variety."
Rex wasn't sure if that had been sarcasm or exasperation. Everything seemed to come out through the modulator in a harsh barking way, leaving little room for tone.
"Here she comes," Vader added flatly before nodding to the troopers at the door. "Allow her inside."
The door slid open just in time for the "her" to walk in without having to break her stride, though Rex didn't bother turning around to see who she was.
"Vader. You've managed to keep me here a week and a half longer than I ever intended to or needed to be here. I don't care what you say. I'm heading out next rotation."
Rex startled in surprise. He knew that voice. The inflection of it had changed some over the years, certainly not as high pitched as it had been when he first heard it coming from a snippy little teenage girl. But he recognized it. He'd know it anywhere.
"The medical droid gave me the clear. Concussion's gone, no lasting effects, and bacta took care of any other minor wounds. They won't even scar. I've never needed a bodyguard before, and I don't need one now. You're just gonna have to get over yourself," she said as she walked right past him to stand adjacent to him and right in front of Vader with her arms crossed.
No amount of military training could have kept him from staring at the togruta woman in disbelief even if he cared to keep up some pretense of decorum.
"Impeccable timing then. Your bodyguard has just arrived," Vader said, waving his hand in Rex's direction.
She cocked her hip and groaned, and Rex didn't need to see her face to know she rolling her eyes and twisting her lips in displeasure.
Without taking her attention from Vader, she said to him, "Sorry. It's nothing personal against you. He's just an overprotective j—"
She paused. A soft gasp escaping her lips before she whirled around to face him with her hands dropped at her sides, surprise coloring her features.
"Rex," she breathed.
Rex stood to his feet, the cuffs that were still sitting in his lap, falling to the floor.
"Long time no see, littl' un. Well, no so little anymore."
Ahsoka's surprise gave way to joy, and she let out a delighted laugh before throwing her arms around him. Stars, he thought to himself as he returned her hug, she was taller than him now.
"I thought you were dead," she whispered.
"Seems to be a mutual misunderstanding going around," he replied gruffly.
She pulled away but kept her arms on his as she inspected him.
"You got old," he joked.
She took the comment good-naturedly and replied, "Had to happen sometime."
"You find my selection suitable then?" Vader said, reminding Rex that he was in the room. And reminding Rex that Ahsoka had casually strolled in to complain to the man like he wasn't… well, Darth Vader.
Ahsoka let go of Rex and turned to Vader. She was trying to scowl again but failing miserably, and the tilt of Vader's mask in response revealed that he knew it.
"I suppose," Ahsoka answered vaguely. "I still don't need a bodyguard."
Rex agreed on that one.
"The fact that you think that is precisely why you're getting one," Vader replied as he stood to his feet.
"That," Ahsoka said and paused a moment as though collecting patience, "makes absolutely no sense."
The Sith crossed his arms and shrugged in a manner that gave Rex the strongest sense of déjà vu, like he'd witnessed this interaction before.
"Well, if you will continue to insist on not having a bodyguard and leaving alone, I am sure I can find something else for the commander to do in my service," Vader replied. "Perhaps—"
"No," Ahsoka cut in quickly. Then she huffed and said, "Damn you."
"I knew you would agree."
What the hell was going on?
"Only because it's Rex. And only because I know he won't get in my way and knows I don't need a bodyguard," Ahsoka insisted again.
"Make no mistake, Ahsoka. His job is to protect you and be the head of all your security-"
"All my security. Vader, that's more than just a bodyguard."
Vader continued without pause, "But Commander Rex works directly for me." Vader turned to look at Rex. He felt a light pressure around his neck as the Sith added, "And if anything happens to her, I will hold you and anyone you decide to employ in the endeavor to keep her safe directly responsible for it."
"Vader, I run a rebellion and frequently go on missions. I'm going to get hurt sometimes."
Rex's confusion overrode his concern at the light pressure around his neck.
Vader paused and then amended. "Any significant harm then."
"Everything is significant with you," Ahsoka replied with a roll of her eyes.
"Is that clear, Commander?"
Rex looked Vader directly in his mask and said, "Yes, sir."
The pressure disappeared, and Vader turned back to Ahsoka.
"I likely won't be able to see you off at your departure, so go ahead and take this," Vader said, handing Ahsoka a small data chip.
"What's this?"
"Group passes to that planet-wide amusement park you said the twins wanted to go to."
"You're kidding. There's a waiting list half a standard-year-long for the express, premium entry ordering, let alone regular entry."
"I can be extremely persuasive when needed."
Ahsoka gave Vader a wry look before sighing in resignation and saying softly, "I am never going to be able to top this. You win when it comes to birthday presents forever."
"And you win for getting to be there," Vader responded in kind.
Though most of him was utterly baffled by this entire situation and what he was witnessing, Rex got the distinct feeling that something silent had passed between the two.
Finally, Ahsoka said, "Thank you. Not just for the passes, but… you know."
The chevrons on her lekku darkened some…
No way. No. Kriffing. Way.
"This has nothing to do with your inquiry of Commander Rex some rotations ago. This is purely in the interest of keeping you alive so that I won't lose a critical piece of my plan."
Ahsoka smiled softly and raised one of her eye markings in a way that Rex was positive was fond. She shrugged and said, "Thanks anyway."
Then she turned to him and said, "Come on, Rexter."
She headed out the office, but Rex paused to look at Vader, who nodded in a silent dismissal. Then he followed Ahsoka, who waited for him to be beside her before they walked side by side down the hall and away from Vader's office.
After a while of silence, Rex finally said, "Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"It's me, Rex. No need to be so formal. But yes."
Old habits die hard, Rex supposed.
"What the kriff?"
Ahsoka laughed. "I know you must have a lot of questions."
"That's an understatement. I haven't been completely out of the loop all these years. I know who Darth Vader is. I know what he's done. General, he killed the Jedi."
"I know."
"And you're working with him."
"To take down Palpatine, yes," Ahsoka replied.
"And to make Vader the Emperor."
"That's the plan for right now."
"And you were in there talking to him like that like he doesn't stand against everything you ever fought for," Rex said sternly.
"It seems that way. But I promise you, Rex, it's not. Vader's not all that he seems and lets people think he is," Ahsoka said with a sigh. "And what do you mean by talking to him like that?"
"With all due respect, General, I helped Skywalker keep his relationship with Senator Amidala a secret. I know a relationship when I see it," Rex said bluntly, narrowing his eyes at Ahsoka.
"You knew about them too, huh?" Ahsoka asked softly.
Who that spent significant time with Skywalker hadn't known?
"General."
"It's not what it looks like."
"Then what is it?"
"It's… complicated."
"He killed the Jedi. He and Palpatine forced my brothers to betray them. He killed Skywalker."
That got a reaction out of her, guilt tightening her face as she reached over and pulled on her other arm. Finally, she muttered, "He didn't kill Anakin."
"Maybe he didn't fall by Vader's hand, but Vader's responsible. Makes no difference," Rex insisted.
"Maybe," Ahsoka muttered.
It was the way she avoided Rex's gaze that he knew she wasn't being all the way truthful. Not outright lying, but there was something she wasn't telling. He decided not to push her on it. Not yet. She could be as stubbornly reserved as her Jedi master had been.
"How did you end up acquainted with Darth Vader anyway? He's not exactly known for his social personality."
Ahsoka stopped in her tracks, a considering expression crossing over her features before her eyes lit up with mischief, and she grinned at him.
"For me to know, and you never to find out."
She meant it too. Even during their four-day hyperspace journey, she wouldn't reveal her how she got involved with Darth Vader, the Jedi killer, of all people. Instead, they spent the trip catching up, which mostly meant Ahsoka filling Rex in on the Rebel Alliance and revealing to him that she was the mysterious Fulcrum. Somehow, he wasn't surprised that she was the one who took up the reins to fight the Empire or, at the very least, fight Palpatine. When she was done, she found the courage to ask him what happened to the rest of the 501st and the company, the 332nd, that had been sent ahead to secure Mandalore.
"I know…" Ahsoka trailed off and looked away before looking back at him. "I know most of what remains of the clones were phased into Vader's legion, but I didn't see any I recognized. Not personally."
"I don't know," Rex replied honestly. "You know, when that issue with Tups and Fives went down, there was questioning about the chips. A group of us that decided we were going to start our own investigation. We didn't quite buy the reasoning of the Chancellor and the Kaminoans. I volunteered to have mine taken out so we could study it. But it was only something we could dedicate time to between missions, and it had to be secret. Whatever was on it, someone didn't want anyone to know about it. Once Order 66 came down, we were called back to Coruscant. And that's when I put the pieces together about the chips. It was the only difference between me and all my brothers. I deserted first chance I got. I tried to convince some to come with me, that the Empire was wrong, but…"
Ahsoka smiled and placed her hand on his.
"You did the best you could. The Emperor played us all," she said.
Rex shrugged. "Doesn't feel that way. It felt like he could have done more."
On that point, Ahsoka didn't argue with him. Not because she agreed with him. He knew she didn't. But probably because she knew nothing she could say that would convince him otherwise.
He pressed on.
"Anyway heard whispers that chips not only forced obedience but could also legitimately cause instability in those who had close bonds to their Jedi generals and commanders. Many of those got phased out. Some, I heard, didn't wait to be phased out and…"
"You don't have to finish," Ahsoka said to him. She was kind enough not to acknowledge the tears running down his cheeks. "What matters is that you know everything now and that you're still here to do something about the injustice done to you and your brothers and to honor that memory. If you want to."
She squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.
"I want to," Rex replied.
Once on Alderaan, they met with the queen, and after explaining the situation, the dark-haired human woman agreed to arrange forged papers for his citizenship.
"You're a lifesaver, Breha," Ahsoka said to the queen.
"And you better not forget it," Breha teased.
Ahsoka started to reply before that look, so quick that most would have missed it, crossed her face that he'd seen cross all Jedi's face when they were listening to a calling in the Force. The next second, the doors to Breha's throne room opened and in ran two children, right into Ahsoka's legs and hugging her around her waist from either side.
"Mama!" the blonde-haired boy exclaimed, beaming up at her.
"You're back," the brown-haired girl added.
Ahsoka looked down at them both with her arms crossed and a raised eye marking, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"What did I do to earn this welcome?" she asked and then frowned. "Leia. What happened to your hair?"
"Luke cut it," Leia replied in a wry tone.
"She told me to cut it," Luke exclaimed, looking at Leia in betrayal. "She didn't want Lady Song to put her hair in those buns."
"But you cut it wrong," Leia shot back, eyes narrowed and a scowl on her lips.
Kriffing hell?
Ahsoka cut in before the children's bickering could continue. "We'll talk about this in detail later. Let me finish this up."
Both children frowned and then seemed to realize that Rex was in the room. They both let go of Ahsoka—Their mother. Ahsoka. A mother—and turned to look at him bashfully.
"Our apologies for interrupting," the girl, Leia, said in a tone much softer than the one she'd been using just a few moments ago with Ahsoka and her brother. There was a certain lack of sincerity in her tone and a distinct twinkle in her eye that told him she wasn't sorry at all. It was familiar.
"Yeah," Luke said slowly, actually seeming sincere. "Sorry."
Rex was again struck with an odd sense of déjà vu, the same one he got seeing Ahsoka interact with Vader.
Ahsoka chuckled and put her hands around either child's shoulders.
"I'll see you soon. Give me a few minutes," Ahsoka said to them both.
"I'm sure you have a little more time than that. Surely, their tutor is looking for them," said the queen.
Luke and Leia gasped, exchanging a look with each other and then giving their mother sheepish grins.
That was the moment Rex knew who the two younglings reminded him of. This had to be a kriffing joke. Or a bizarre, elaborate dream. But Rex doubted he had the imagination to think up something this insane.
"If you hurry back, I'll pretend not to know you ditched your schooling," said Ahsoka.
The two nodded hurriedly before dashing out the room as quickly as they'd dashed into it.
"Come on, Rex. I'll show you to your rooms and introduce you to the head of Alderaanian security. He'll get you set up so you won't be punished for not doing your job," Ahsoka said as she started out the throne room.
When they were in the grand halls, Rex said, "Ahsoka?"
"The walls have ears, Rex. Even though the palace is relatively safe and secure," Ahsoka warned.
"Those twins. You and the general?" he asked carefully.
Ahsoka balked. "What? No! You know how much he—" She paused before shaking her head. "He wouldn't have done something like that to her. I wouldn't have done that to her."
Maybe not. But it had been war. Things happened. He wouldn't have judged them for it. Skywalker's secret relationship hadn't been the only thing happening among the ranks that he'd turned a blind eye to. But he had to ask. He had to know the magnitude of what he was getting into. And things, as they were, weren't adding up.
"But them. The general?" he asked vaguely.
"Yes."
Rex didn't say anything as they continued walking. But something nagged at him. Something missing from all this that would make this entire crazy situation make a lot more sense. Then he remembered the feeling he had while watching Ahsoka and Vader that he'd seen their interaction before. The same feeling he'd had while looking at Luke and Leia a few minutes ago.
"There's been a mix-up. The youngling isn't with me."
"Stop calling me that! You're stuck with me, Skyguy."
"What did you just call me? Don't get snippy with me, little one."
Rex had seen the two interact before. Getting into one of their bickering arguments dozens of times on the front lines of the war.
He was now certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was no dream.
He didn't kill Anakin.
"Ahsoka," Rex said, abruptly stopping and turning to look at her.
"Rex," Ahsoka began in the sage tone that the old Jedi masters he'd met used to speak in. He wondered what happened over the years that made her seem so much older than he knew she was. She put her hand on his shoulder as she continued, "For everyone's sake, there are certain things you don't need to actually know. The only thing that matters is that I'm the twins' mother."
She smiled a little before continuing down the hall.
Rex stared after her for a moment before letting out a longsuffering sigh and running to catch up with her. Already he felt the onset of a headache. What the hell had Tano and Skywalker gotten him into now?
End of Part Four
AN: As one of my readers noted, I foreshadowed Rex's return and that it wouldn't take long for Vader to figure out where he was back in chapter 34. I don't know where he went. My head-canon for this is that Anakin and Rex had some kind of contingency plan for the clones for after the war or... something. I really don't know. Rex is here. That's all that matters. We're going with it.
On another note about Rex, all of the fandom for the last six years or so, interpreted when Rex said in Rebels that he got his chip removed and didn't betray his Jedi that it meant he did it of his own initiative. Now Clone Wars has revealed that didn't mean he literally did it. But he did have it done. And when he got it done, instead of taking the easy route and going along with everything, he didn't turn on Ahsoka. Some of the fandom... have issues with this. If you're one of them, that's your right and your opinion. I just didn't find it contradictory or like it was a lie somehow. For disclosure, I haven't watched most of Rebels except for the Ahsoka episodes. But I went back and watched the clip of this disputed scene, and I also know about the unease Kanan had about Rex. Either way, it doesn't matter in this story. It's already an AU, and this story goes with the initial interpretation of that line.
Anywho. I hoped you enjoyed. Review please!