Chapter 7

Two Days Later

"It was an apparition of the Force! I don't know how else to explain it!" Ahsoka yells in exasperation.

"Apparitions don't leave real lightsaber wounds." Rex states.

"The fact that he appeared and then disappeared means he must've been an apparition. There's no other way to explain it." Ahsoka says from the cot, sighing, hugging her knees.

"Who was he?" Rex asks, losing patience.

A tear slips from Ahsoka's eye, unable to say his name, "I-I-I can't. Not him. It couldn't have been."

An uneasy feeling penetrates Rex, he had seen Ahsoka against Sith Lords before, with minimal issue. The only person to have ever truly been able to defeat Ahsoka was-

Rex feels his heart hit his heels, taking in a sharp breath, now as wordless as Ahsoka. If his suspicion is correct, then… No.

James steps in through the door, one glance at the pale complexion that has taken over both Rex and Ahsoka opens a whole new can of worms.

He slowly steps into the room, cautious, his eyes dancing between Rex and Ahsoka.

"Hey, I brought you some food." He says, holding out a plate of fresh bacon.

Ahsoka doesn't even flinch. She wordlessly takes the plate from him, fragilely putting a piece in her mouth, chewing painstakingly slow.

Realizing he'll get nowhere with Ahsoka, he turns to Rex, "Rex, can I talk to you for a minute?"

They both step outside, "What is going on? I get why Ahsoka is pale, she's lost blood. But why do you look like you've seen a ghost? I'll admit I haven't known her long, but I figured bacon would cheer her up, she didn't even respond. So, what the hell happened?" James asks.

"I- I don't know. I have a suspicion, but nothing more." Rex says.

"Well, let's hear it." James prompts.

"It won't hold the same gravity to you as it will to me and Ahsoka because you didn't know him. Didn't experience him. The man who trained her, my general, I suspect, is who attacked her. I've seen her toe-to-toe with some of the best saberists of our time, this is the only explanation I can think of. It doesn't even begin to explain how he was here, and how he's gone." Rex explains.

"What if she defeated him? That would explain the 'gone' part." James suggests.

Rex chuckles, "You never saw him fight. He could overpower most in just a few strikes with raw strength. That doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of his abilities with a lightsaber. The two of them used to spar to entertain the men, she never won. We could all tell he was holding back. He never used the Force against her, like she did him. Just raw skill and strength. If he wanted to kill her, or anyone, there is nothing that could've stopped him. Once you've seen Ahsoka fight, truly fight, you'll understand what I mean."

"Okay, so he is just gone. What does this mean for the people of Earth? If super-powered laser-sword-wielding monsters can just appear, how can we fight that?" James asks.

Rex chuckles again, "If one of them came here, you might be able to overwhelm them with enough bullets. But if he came here, with the intent to kill, run, and pray that he does not find you. I always felt a little bad for our enemy when he was in a mood, he was ruthless. Entire fortresses fell to his blade. That being said, he was the most kind, caring person I've ever met. Would do anything for those he cared about. That's why I really don't like my suspicion."

They both turn and see Ahsoka staring at them, her piercing blue eyes seem to stare into their very souls. She stares for another minute before closing her eyes.

Three Months Later

Ahsoka opens her eyes, her lekku swaying in the wind.

"You ready for this, Commander?" Rex yells.

Ahsoka smirks, "Race you to the surface!"

Rex and James groan, forming up behind Ahsoka, not exactly eager to play her game of who-can-open-their-chute-closest-to-the-ground.

In addition to her lightsabers, there's now an M4 rifle slung across her shoulder. Her appearance now much more resembles that of a U.S. Special Forces soldier, with light body armor, grenades, and camouflage clothes.

Without a second's thought, she runs and leaps out of the back of the plane, Rex and James shaking their heads.

James slaps Rex on the shoulder, "I'm not losing this time!" He yells as he runs past him and out of the plane. Rex shakes his head and follows him.

James's heart stops as he doesn't see Ahsoka under canopy. Seconds pass by, feeling like hours. Still nothing. Just as he begins to accept that she finally cut it too close, he sees her chute open.

Ahsoka can't help but think holy shit that was close as she lands among the bushes spread across the side of the mountain. She sees James and Rex far above her, under canopy. Losers.

She looks down the scope of her rifle, checking for distant enemies. She closes her eyes, opening herself to the Force. She feels the gentle breeze drifting over her montrals, the life force of Rex and James landing behind her, the insects crawling along the ground beneath her feet. She exhales, the sound of her breath chilling. She opens her eyes again, focused in the Force.

She turns and greets Rex and James, simply smirking. They both simultaneously roll their eyes, stepping up next to her, looking outwards across the mountains.

"We'll wait for night before we move." Ahsoka orders, laying down in a bush. The others follow, each finding their own shrub to hide in during the dying hours of the evening.

Ahsoka carefully comes out of hiding, careful not to make any noise as she does. She makes a hand motion, Rex and James quietly joining her. She pulls up her hood, covering her montrals, now but a phantom in the night.

Ahead of them rest the lights of a village, the village housing their target. Multiple targets. They quickly move out, deftly making their way across the near impassable terrain.

Ahsoka holds her hand up in a fist, signaling the two men to stop. She points to either side of her, indicating them to take up their final positions. They follow her orders silently.

Ahsoka finds her own spot, once more laying on the cold, rocky ground. To her distant left she sees Rex, with his own rifle, taking aim on the village, waiting, James doing the same to her right.

Hours later, Ahsoka feels a nudge from the Force. She perks up, waiting. One of the doors swings open three bearded men stepping out, the side of their faces to her. She grunts, unable to confirm their identities.

"Rex, James, can you confirm targets?" She whispers into her radio.

James's voice crackles in her ear, "Targets confirmed. Primary on your left, secondary on your right. Third in the middle."

Ahsoka grins, "James, you're on secondary, Rex, you take the third. On my mark."

Ahsoka's condensed breath freezes on the barrel of her rifle as she exhales, her scar seeming to almost glow in the night, letting the Force guide her aim. In her head she counts down, three, two, one.

Just as she pulls the trigger she whispers, "Execute."

Three simultaneous shots ring out into the night, the three men silently collapsing.

Author's Note:

This was fun to write. Finally starting to get to the three of them working as a team, rather than dealing with introductory issues, or emotional drama. Just the elite killers that Rex and Ahsoka are. And James.

Q&A:

Q: Why does a thin plate of material easily bend along one axis but not along the other axis?

A: Because of the area moment of inertia, I=(bh^3)/12 (that's for a rectangular prism). This plugs into some other equations I'd rather not think about, but when the height is small, it is cubed, so it becomes big. But when the height is big, after cubing it, becomes massive. That's, mathematically, why a thin piece of metal will wrap around something, but when stood on its end doesn't budge.

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