A/N.

Hi Readers,

Hope you enjoy this; part of it has been written for a couple of years.

Sued13

Chapter Seventy Four

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."

― G.K. Chesterton

Sleeping curled around her infant daughter gave Ana, as much comfort as it did Kallie; it was not the recommended way of sleeping with babies but they had not provided any cot and she didn't want her removed from her during the nights. She didn't trust the stormtrooper in charge, even though she had reluctantly given him the details he wanted, and confirmed that she was married to Rex, formerly Captain Rex of the GAR, 501st Battalion, confirmed that her child was his. Kallie had been threatened and she had a decision to make, one that no one should have to make; a choice between the two people she loved most.

And Kallie had to come first.

She snuggled closer, ensuring her daughter was warm enough. She wasn't exactly sure where they were; it looked like some kind of disused industrial building but she wasn't even sure which planet she was on, or if they were in an inhabited area. Her mind went to Rex, she still loved him, even though they were estranged. He came to see their daughter, as often as he could; he was a good father, a good man. She would have no one say otherwise, especially that Stormtrooper. The sound of the door opening, roused her from her memories, and she turned to see one of the Stormtroopers enter; she automatically wrapped her arms protectively around her child.

"Come on get up! The Commander wants you in his office, now!"

Ana swung her legs to the floor and then bent to pick up her daughter, she was a solid child, taking after her Father. She carefully wrapped the blanket around her, the complex was chilly; there didn't appear to be any heating, only water and light. The Sergeant had found her another blanket for Kallie and a few other things she could use for her, to make her more comfortable; there was something different about that one particular Stormtrooper.

This stormtrooper led her by the arm, pulling to hurry her along, to the Commander's office. Luckily she had fed Kallie, during the night, so she hadn't woken up hungry; she hadn't meant to but the closeness had settled both of them. The door to the room being used was slightly ajar…..

"We've got our orders TK6512, just carry them out."

"But sir, it's a child, a baby."

"You getting soft TK6512, or is it just old age?"

"No sir, but using children and….."

"They're still rebels and that's who we're fighting."

"Yes sir." There appeared a reluctance in his voice; he was the one who had provided the extra things.

His bucket tilted down towards her, in a nod, as he left the room.

.

Rex opened up the message on the comlink, he recognised the code immediately; it was an encrypted one that Essie or Tula used on Seelos, only known to a certain number of people. He answered immediately, there was no reason not to. He had read Ana's letter and made his decision; he needed to talk to her next time he saw her. The com pinged again and he took the call.

"Rex." He recognised Essie's voice but she sounded different, not like her, something was wrong. She sounded scared, distraught almost but before he could ask what was wrong.

"They're missing, the speeder's still there but they're gone."

He couldn't process what what she was saying.

"Slow down, Essie."

Shuffling sounds emanated from the other end and Tula's lilting voice came on.

"Ana took Kallie to visit Jay and the girls, like they do every week but she never got there."

He wasn't sure if the pause was deliberate or not; the hitch in her voice said not.

"Jed found the speeder, damaged with signs of a struggle and all the baby things were taken."

The silence stretched out as the realisation of what happened dawned on Rex.

"Rex? Are you still there?"

"I'll leave immediately."

His chest felt as if the life was being crushed out of him; he was just going to com Wolffe when his own com lit up with another incoming message.

Ana?

Short lived relief flooded through him, until he flipped the on key.

"Rex!" A brother, he had not heard another voice like that in years. He activated the visual and the blue hologram lit up his room.

"It's been a while, Ner Vod." The last phrase came out haltingly, showing the speaker had not used that language for a long, long time.

"A lifetime….. Cody?"

"I need to talk to you urgently, Rex old boy."

"I'm all ears Cody, or is it just some number now?"

He had a bad feeling about this.

"Cody will do."

"Let's see you without the bucket then; although I can't believe you actually wear that stuff."

The trooper in the hologram popped the seal of his bucket and removed it.

Rex could have sworn his heart missed a beat, when he saw the features of his old friend and brother, with the telltale scar running around his left eye. He had aged much the same as Rex, although his face looked thinner, more gaunt that Rex and not so dark. Rex had spent a lot of his later time outdoors, since the Republics downfall, whereas his old comrade had spent a great deal of his time enclosed in armour, serving the Empire on Kamino; a place not known for its sunny climes. His white hair was in the same regulation style, he had worn 18 years ago.

"So, old friend, what do you want? The last time I heard anything from you, you said I was insane."

His 'old friend' pressed something in front of him and moved away from the image it revealed...

Ana was standing there with their daughter in her arms, swathed in a blanket, her favourite blanket; it had little Tookas on it. Ana's face was often an open book and now it showed exactly how she felt, stricken with what she had to do, trying to soothe their daughter, in dangerous circumstances. Now he knew the reason for the call.

"It's ok, Cyar'ika. I'll be there soon." Even though he knew she couldn't hear him.

"Always the hero, Eh, Rex. I thought you picked your fights better. You shouldn't have joined the Rebellion; it's not a fight you can win."

"What exactly do you want, Commander, if that's what you still are?" Rex's mind was racing, making tentative plans based on insufficient intel, deciding what he was going to do first. He may have to wing it but he was good at that

"You. Just you…...alone. You know what's at stake if you don't comply." He turned and the image went to Ana and Kallie again; she was having to soothe her as the child was now crying. "The Imperial Labour camps are no place for children but it's the price rebels pay."

"What have you done to them?" The question came out quiet and low; he could feel his anger churning in his stomach.

"Nothing... yet." He let that sink in. "I'm sending you the coordinates. You have two days. I expect you to come alone."

The comlink died, not lasting long enough to trace, to check, if it came from the same areas as the coordinates he had been sent. He had to prepare now; it was at least one hyperspace jump away.

.

"Sir?" Jom Barrell couldn't believe what he was hearing, he couldn't just take over. Rex was in charge; okay he was old but he was the best, all the experience he had and his strategies. He knew exactly what to do. He knew what the Stormtroopers has been trained to do and how. He knew their codes and had insights, as he had actually been a clone trooper, one of their predecessors. It was that insight that was giving them the edge now. They had come so far, he felt they were finally actually making a difference.

"Why?"

"It's personal."

Rex had that manner of saying a few words that indicated the conversation was over, without actually saying it.

Jom ignored it this time.

"You're dismissed Sargeant."

He stood there, arms held behind his back, as implacable as his commanding officer, who was continuing his packing.

"Sir, we can help."

"I said - Dismissed Sargeant, And I meant it."

"Sir?"

Rex had always appreciated his persistence, or pigheadedness, as he called it.

"Permission to speak, sir, off the record."

Rex sighed and nodded, after Kanan, Zeb and his brothers, Jom was someone he could trust and his trust was hard won these days; even Saw had pushed it too far.

"If you need me, Rex, I'm here."

Jom was revealing his feelings, not a task he undertook lightly and always with difficulty.

"You've always been there for me, even when you've had your own problems; if I can help."

He felt Rex's hand heavy on shoulder and then squeeze.

"Thanks Jom, this is something only I can do but if I need any backup, you'll be the first to get my call."

He scanned his superior's face but nothing was being given away; implacable Rex.

"Sir."

He saluted with precision, accepting that part of the conversation was over.

"Command have been notified that I will be absent for a while. All Command codes will be changed as soon as I leave the base, understood?"

"Yessir." He wanted more information. "That bad Sir?"

Rex gave him an uneasy smile that did not reach his eyes.

"They will be revealed to me only if I return in person and following my full debriefing."

Jom walked with him to the hangar bay, which was nearly empty for once; the Ghost crew were all out and most of the squadrons were either training or on supply runs. Rex didn't ask for help, as he knew it would be refused, and he would be prevented from leaving himself. That was not what he wanted; he wasn't about to let his family be abandoned to the Empire; it was a trap but he knew it and that was half the battle. He fired up the shuttle and set off.

.

Jom watched as Rex's shuttle left, then opened up his comlink; he needed the other Clones. They were as good as Rex, Perhaps not as stable but still good in a fight. He'd been impressed, and it took a lot to impress him.

"Commander Wolffe, Gregor. We have a problem with the Captain."

"Wolffe here. What kind of problem?"

"Personal; it would be better if I explained in person."

There was some shuffling in the background.

"Seelos. I'm sending you the coordinates."

.

"You salvaged all this from a downed Imperial Walker?" Asked Jom as he wandered around the converted walker, checking all the equipment. The other two older clones had gone up in his estimation; He had been right to contact them.

"Most of it." Confirmed Gregor, leaning back against the Ops table.

"Impressive." Admitted the Sergeant.

Wolffe came towards them from the com section, where he had been having a conversation, audio only, so they couldn't see who it was.

"Ana?"

Asked Jom; he knew all about Rex's personal life. His whole squad did; you couldn't fight together and not get to know some things. The whispered com calls; the looks between them when they were back at base. He couldn't agree with it but it took all sorts.

"She's disappeared with Kallie."

Rex's daughter.

"The local police think they were taken, as there were signs of a struggle."

"Who?"

"Not known. They were searching but it's been called off. Didn't want raise any red flags with the Empire."

"Rex?"

"He was notified, as soon as they found out."

"So what's the plan."

"We follow him."

Jom liked the old clones. They thought like he did. Action based. Plus they had some ingenious tech and outlandish ideas. A lot of it shouldn't work but it did.

"How do we do that; we have no idea where he's gone."

"No but we know which craft he's going to take."

"We do?"

"The Imperial shuttle."

"The one that Ghost squad liberated."

"Yep, and we have another one."

"You liberated Two?"

"He's quick, ain't he." Commented Gregor.

The datapad the Wolffe was still holding beeped. "There he is."

"You've got him already?"

"Yep. Come on lad. The game's afoot."

Jom scowled.

"He's been reading some of Ana's old books." Explained Wolffe.