The confines of the helmet seemed to grow tighter and tighter with each passing second, but Rex didn't dare take it off. Cody would see his face, then.

He would know.

The commander already suspected something, if the way he'd eyed Rex earlier was any indication.

So, he resolved to continue suffocating on his own stale breaths if it meant no one could see his shifting expression. No one could know.

No one would know.

"Just let me do the talking." Rik's hushed voice shattered his thoughts and he forced himself not to stiffen.

"You're really going to go through with it, then?" You're honestly going to lie to a Jedi? A kriffing Jedi?

Rik didn't reply, his face set like a cold plate of durasteel, his helmet tucked securely beneath his arm.

"He's a Jedi, Rik," Rex pressed as they made their way towards the recently landed gunships, out of which General Kenobi stepped out with his crew.

"Look, Rex, this is my battle, so let me fight it. Don't interfere."

"So, I'm just supposed to stand silently on the sidelines while you lie to General Kriffing Kenobi?" Rex hissed as they drew nearer. Kenobi had spotted them, flashing a weary smile before coming to meet the two advancing captains.

"I said," Rik gritted out, "let. Me. Handle it."

"You did what you had to do. Just tell the general what really happened. He'll understand, vod. he'll help you."

"Yeah, I did what I had to do. Now let me finish doing it. I have everything under control."

By lying to a Jedi? Oh yeah, you're handling things just fine.

By the way Rik stiffened slightly, Rex knew that this thought had forced itself into the open and nothing Rex could do now would successfully retract it.

"I know what I'm doing, Rex," the captain shot back. "Now, shut up, okay?"

"Fine," Rex gritted out as Kenobi finally met them.

"Captains," he greeted with a nod.

"General Kenobi," Rex returned when it became obvious that Rik wasn't going to speak.

"I'm glad you both made it out unscathed," Kenobi said, looking the soldiers up and down with a sad smile. So many did not, came the unspoken thought.

"You too, sir." And Rex meant it. It could've been any Jedi caught in that explosion, and he didn't know what he would do if General Kenobi had perished instead of Styrne. Because no one seemed to care very much for the Zabrak General, at least no one in the 501st.

And everyone adored General Kenobi.

"Marks and I were the only 323rd survivors," Rik informed, finally stepping into the conversation. Rex took this as his cue to stay silent.

A blanket of tension settled over the trio as no one spoke, each wondering where to take the conversation next.

In the end, it was Kenobi who stepped in to take the reins. "What is it, Captain?" And, oh stars, he knew! "Something's happened. What is it?"

Though Kenobi was looking straight at Rex, the latter turned to Rik, keeping his vow of silence.

As Rik sucked in a breath, Kenobi drew his arms across his chest in preparation for whatever terrible news was about to befall him.

"General Styrne… He didn't make it out." At Rik's declaration, Rex saw Kenobi's eyes widen considerably. "He was caught in an explosion, sir. I… I did my best to save him." Here, Rik's voice cracked. "I'm sorry, general."

For a moment, Kenobi seemed at a loss for words. He can see right through Rik… Through both of us. Oh, this was such a stupid idea!

"The Separatists used explosives in their own factory?" And there it was. Kenobi was far too intelligent for this sort of trickery.

Rex found himself wishing he could sink into the ground and never come back up again.

"They were throwing everything they could at us, sir," Rik replied, his voice a perfect monotone now.

Kenobi nodded, swallowing. "I assume you were unable to rescue the body?"

Shaking his head, Rik held out the lightsaber. "No, only this."

And for a brief moment, Rex thought Kenobi might reach out and take the intricate weapon. By the look in Rik's dull eyes, he no doubt thought the same thing—no, he feared it.

Instead of taking it, however, Kenobi gently curled Rik's fingers around the hilt and gazed at him with sad eyes. "I think you should be the one to give this to Padawan Cotyn. It will mean more coming from someone she knows."

With a gulp, Rik nodded, hooking the saber back onto his belt.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Captain," Kenobi continued, his blue eyes dulling to a light shade of gray. "Truly. I will do everything in my power to make certain none of you are separated if it comes down to reassignment. There… aren't many Jedi Generals available at this time."

And that, Rex noted with a hint of pride at his general's old Master, was Obi-Wan Kenobi. Thinking of others before he even considered thinking of himself. Surely, the loss of a fellow Jedi was no small sorrow to bear, yet here he was, consoling Rik and promising to take care of the 323rd, a battalion he hardly even knew.

He didn't doubt Kenobi would keep his word. The Jedi Master would keep the vode together even if it meant pulling every string he could find—perhaps even weaving new ones. Because Kenobi never lied; he always kept his promises.

And, up until that moment, he'd always thought the same was true of Rik.

Now, Rex didn't know what to think.

So, he didn't.

It's just easier that way.

He was too quiet, unusually so. Of course, no one was doing much talking at that time, each trying instead to reconcile themselves with the brothers they'd lost and the wounds they'd collected.

But Rex hadn't spoken much at all since his return from the factory, and it had planted seeds of worry in Cody's chest.

His vod'ika was hiding something, keeping something from him that was clearly eating away at the captain's insides.

Cody knew from past experience that Rex wouldn't confide in him about it unless he marched into the captain's quarters and forced him to talk, to spill his soul and confess. However, as he surveyed the dimly lit gunship filled to the brim with cluster upon cluster of vode, Cody realized with a pang that such a confrontation would have to wait. In fact, it probably wouldn't happen until they were back at the GAR military base on Coruscant.

Blast it!

Until then, Cody would simply have to bide his time. And keep a close eye on his vod'ika in the meantime…

Cody knew.

Or, he knew something was up, if the way he kept turning his helmet in Rex's direction was any indication.

Just breathe. In, out. In, out. Only, the air in his helmet had gone stale long ago, a consequence of keeping the bucket on since early that morning.

People only know what you tell them, Rex tried to reassure himself. And Rik hasn't told anyone anything.

That was the problem, though, wasn't it? Rik wasn't telling anyone anything other than some sort of twisted half-truth that could come back to bite him if he wasn't careful.

After all, a clone killing a Jedi, even if he had no other choice in the matter, was a crime of epic proportions. It would never stand up in court. In fact, there likely wouldn't even be a trial. Clones weren't official citizens of anywhere, much less of Coruscant. They were Republic property.

Republic property… Rex flexed his stiff fingers in a vain attempt to alleviate stress.

And there were no rights for beings who held no citizenship. No trials for innocent clones caught in the aftermath of a battle gone wrong.

No mercy for a mercy killing.

Not when the one who perished was a Jedi Master, and the one who walked away with nothing more than a scratch across the temple was a clone.

It's wrong. It's all so wrong.

And the worst part was that there was nothing he could do about it except keep his mouth shut and hope his vod knew what he was doing.

Because they would all burn if he didn't. Every single one of them. What happened to one clone reflected harshly upon the others.

And the public already held mixed views of the copied soldiers as it was.

Cody glanced at him again before his attention was called away by some young shiny Rex wasn't familiar with.

It's going to be fine. It will…

It has to be.

They would land back at camp in less than ten minutes and Rex would go about his day. They'd pack up and be on the Resolute before dusk.

And then, Rex would put it all behind him.

Because it wasn't his problem, it wasn't his fight. Rik had made that quite clear.

His batchmate would handle it and they would all go back to their normal lives.

It was a comforting thought, at least, it should have been…

So, why did Rex still feel like he was carrying the weight of Coruscant on his shoulders?

Anakin couldn't contain his shock when Obi-Wan told him the news. Dead.

General Styrne was dead.

Now, as his metal hand gripped the overhead handles of the gunship, he found himself working hard to breathe.

"It could've been any one of us!" He recalled his words to his Master, who'd paled further at the dreadful thought.

Any one of us…

"It could've been me, or you, or Rex!"

He swallowed, hoping his men couldn't see the way he clenched his fists so they wouldn't tremble.

And then what would I have done?

The death of any of his friends would have killed him, too. Because the Council was right, vape it. He still struggled with attachment.

No, Anakin didn't struggle—Obi-Wan struggled—he embraced attachment. Accepted it as a necessary element of life, just as his mother had taught him.

Sorry, Obi-Wan, he thought grimly as he glanced at his Master, who was in the middle of a quiet conversation with Boil. You weren't my only teacher. I learned a few things before I came to you that I can never forget.

Not that he wanted to, anyway. To forget attachment, to forget love, would be to forget his mother. And he would never forget her.

No matter how hard they try to make me, he seethed, his emotions now raging amid the aftereffects of the news.

At least it hadn't been someone he cared deeply about. In fact, General Styrne had always been one of his least favorite Jedi. The Zabrak made Mace Windu look like a bundle of joy.

Anakin had to stifle a bitter chuckle at the mental image this simple thought created.

No, he didn't like Styrne. He didn't hate him, he just didn't like him.

But Silia…

Oh, Silia… Anakin resisted the urge to wipe a tired hand over his face. This was going to destroy her.

"I don't have to be the one to tell her, do I?" he remembered asking Obi-Wan before they prepared to board the gunship.

His Master had just looked upon him with those sad, grey eyes—and stang! He hated those grey eyes…—and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I would never ask that of you, Anakin. She's going to take this news hard and I wouldn't want you to be the bearer."

Anakin had swallowed at that, feeling somewhat guilty for wanting to avoid his friend. "Who… who's going to…?"

"I will," Obi-Wan had replied, and Anakin realized he should've seen it coming. "And Captain Rik, of course."

Anakin had just nodded.

It could've been any one of us…

The petit Pantoran had the softest soul of any Jedi Anakin had come to know in the Temple—but perhaps he was just a bit biased seeing as she was the first he'd come to know all those years ago.

Obi-Wan's kind little friend Bant Erin had nothing on Silia Cotyn.

Silia…

Gripping the handle tighter, Anakin turned to Jesse, who stood just to his right.

"Were you there?" he inquired softly. The look in the trooper's eyes told him there was no need to elucidate.

"No." Jesse glanced around at his brothers, before facing his helmet back at Anakin. "Rex was, though. I think… I covered him when he ran to find Captain Rik. When they came back… It was so chaotic, I didn't even… I didn't notice at first. I didn't notice until Kix pointed it out."

"Hey," Anakin replied, keeping his tone low and gentle. "It's all right. No one can hold that against you, so don't hold it against yourself. Honestly, I don't know if I would have noticed either."

He wasn't exactly the friendly sort.

Anakin had no doubt the thought echoed through Jesse's head as well, but neither had the strength to say it out loud.

Because it shouldn't be said aloud. It would be disrespectful to the dead.

Then again, Anakin hadn't exactly been very respectful when the Jedi was alive. Neither had any of his men, but he supposed that was his fault.

"You have to constantly be setting a good example, Anakin, not only for your impressionable young Padawan, but for your soldiers as well." Obi-Wan's wise words sounded in his mind as clearly as if the man were speaking to him now. "Always remember that."

Only, he hadn't. And oh, what he wouldn't give to just have one more chance to make amends with the ornery general! To build up his image, and in turn, Obi-Wan's.

Because Anakin's behavior was a reflection of Obi-Wan and his teachings, a thing Anakin would do well to remember more than he did.

It always leads back to Obi-Wan… He gazed once more at his Master, who still conversed quietly with his sergeant. From my men, to Ahsoka, to me, to Obi-Wan… Always Obi-Wan.

A sudden pain pierced his heart at the thought of losing Obi-Wan. It could have been him caught in that explosion… It could have been any one of us.

Any one of us…

And Anakin didn't know if he would have been able to handle that.

Not well at all, he was sure.

Not well at all.