I want to thank Artistic-Resonance for the follow, favorite, and review, as well as leibigh for the follow! I appreciate the feedback and I'm happy that you're enjoying the story so far! I hope y'all like this chapter just as much!

The air had finally begun to cool down, the sweltering heat subsiding little by little as the scarlet sun started to drift further below the horizon. Rex sauntered to a nearby log and instinctively dropped his blasters, his arms hanging limp against his sides and swaying ever so slightly with every breath he took. He carefully lowered himself onto the coarse wood, slumping forward in exhaustion as he released a heavy, pitiful sigh.

What the hell happened back there?

He was conflicted, a range of emotions coursing through his habitually cold veins.

All of his men were killed.

All of them.

Not even General Saadasa, a stoic and accomplished Jedi Master, had survived the ambush from whatever- whoever- those damned bastards were. Being a Captain in the 501st, he usually held the answer to everything. Usually. This time, though?

He didn't have a single clue on what the hell they could do, or where they could go.

The Padawan and him were trapped on this floating rock of scum, stuck in the outer rim territories where they already had few allies. It was going to take one hell of a miracle to survive this shit show of a mission- that was a given.

The intense thoughts started to quickly grow overwhelming, his breath growing heavy and ragged as he felt suffocated under the helmet that he donned nearly every day of his life. Rex's gloved hands hurriedly reached to the bottom of it, tearing it from his head and chucking it with such fury that it even frightened him a bit. He groaned, listening to the soft thud of the piece of armor hitting a nearby tree. He was ashamed of himself for acting this way; he was a Captain in the 501st, for crying out loud!

But here he was, sitting alone on a log and acting more pathetic than anyone he had ever met before.

The clone leaned up from his slumped position, raising his arm and running a shaky hand over his neatly-trimmed, blonde hair. He needed to get a hold of himself soon and head back to camp, especially if the Padawan woke up and noticed he wasn't there. She may have been a Jedi and may have outranked him, but she had already been through enough and he didn't want to startle her anymore than she already was. The girl deserved that much at least.

As he was about to stand, a golden ray of sunlight shone directly into his eyes and he hastily looked away, raising a hand to block the attack on his vision. Maybe he shouldn't have thrown his helmet in a pathetic, childish tantrum and this wouldn't be happening- getting visually assaulted by a fucking star tens of millions of meters away. Within a moment the blinding light began to fade and he lowered the protective hand, hesitantly peering up at the scorching orb.

His mouth grew slightly agape as his caramel eyes took in the sight before him, the vast shades of the fading, celestial fireball leaving him in awe. Radiant yellows and startling reds were painted across the horizon as streaks of blush and periwinkle started to trickle in, softening the harshness of the scene.

Rex couldn't help but chuckle; maybe it was a good thing he tossed his helmet like a child. Every day of his life for the past decade had been about the military, constantly living and breathing the role of Captain that he never had time to experience the beauty of life, not even for a second. He may have been a clone, but he was still a man.

He couldn't hold back the smile that began to creep upon his tanned face, his eyes continuously panning across the horizon and admiring the immaculate colors dancing above him. He didn't want this moment to end- not in the slightest- because for once he was able to escape his duties as a soldier, and ignore all of the horrors that he had witnessed over the past year.

That was selfish though, right?

And that wasn't allowed- not in the Grand Army of the Republic.

He wasn't bred to be selfish- he was bred to be selfless.

He was supposed to give up his life for the Republic, for democracy.

Rex gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing in anger as the luminous rays that were once bathing the planet started to shrink below the distant tree line, the darkness of night spreading like a rapid disease.

And just like that, his role of being a Captain in the 501st Legion resumed.

The man grabbed his blasters from beside the log and stood up with a huff, quickly holstering the weapons before stomping over to wherever the hell his helmet was tossed. He scanned the area, his exhausted eyes searching for the dingy piece of armor. A glint of yellow caught his eye and he walked over, a dry chuckle slipping past his lips once he looked down; the once beautiful sun had been kind enough to direct him back to his calling.

How fucking ironic…

Rex bent down and snatched the helmet up, shoving it back onto his head with zero hesitation. This was his life- his one and only purpose for being in this galaxy. What made him think that he deserved to sit down for once and enjoy the little things? To relax and not have to worry about clankers or crazy bastards trying to kill him? Maybe he was defective, or maybe he was just plain ignorant. He couldn't tell for sure. All he knew was that he needed to get back to the camp before the Padawan woke up- to carry on with the mission like the good soldier he was.

The trek back to the make-shift camp was relatively fast; it only took several minutes as he hadn't wandered too far away from the defenseless girl. Upon entering the small clearing, he stopped momentarily and took immediate notice of her sleeping form. Surprisingly, she still hadn't woken up yet. He wasn't a medic by any means, but he knew basic knowledge when it came to the subject. Rex had already examined her and as far as he knew she was perfectly healthy; a few scrapes and bruises, but otherwise in great shape. Maybe it was a Jedi thing he didn't know about and they took longer to rest, or maybe the Padawan was simply and utterly exhausted- much like he was. He surmised that it was most likely the latter.

The clone walked carefully back to his own spot, stepping right alongside the unconscious Padawan as he tried his best to avoid the sound of his boots crunching against the leaves and twigs that littered the forest floor. He lowered himself to the ground, leaning against a tree trunk that had been his main place of rest for nearly a day now.

Once sitting, his dark eyes were immediately cast upon the girl again. Her breaths were soft and rhythmic, and he could see the slow rise of her chest after every unconscious inhale and exhale. Rex didn't know Lumiya that well- he'd only worked with her several times before- but she seemed like a good enough person. She seemed to care about General Skywalker and if that was the case, he probably cared about her as well- that's how he knew she had to have been at least decent.

She was a peculiar girl though and seemed far too emotional for a Jedi- though he could have said the same thing about General Skywalker. He chuckled at the realization.

Maybe that's why they get along…

She was far more delicate and sensitive than any Jedi he'd ever met, but she certainly wasn't a coward- not from what he could tell. Rex took notice of the way she fought at the temple, deflecting blaster bolts with ease, cutting down enemies, and protecting not only his troops but even him as well. She was a valiant fighter, filled with passion and strength, and though she may have passed out towards the end of the fight he wasn't going to hold it against her; everyone had a moment where they'd finally break before coming back even stronger.

The Captain wasn't sure what was coursing through her mind during that time though, or the extent of the pain she felt when her Master was killed right before her eyes. He knew that Jedi felt those types of things, that they could feel the passing of others deep within them, and that it was painful. She wouldn't just give up for any old reason, so he wasn't going to brand her in a negative light for her actions. He didn't want to be that type of person, especially not towards someone as courageous as her.

Rex's curious, dark orbs never drifted from the girl as he continued to think, the thoughts of the past day's events running wild in his head. He usually hated having an overactive mind but at a time such as this, he didn't mind it as much; it was the only thing keeping him occupied and awake. He was just so tired, so exhausted, and so defeated from everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours. His eyes watched the rise and fall of Lumiya's chest again and he desperately wished to be in her position, sleeping soundly without a care in the world.

Sleep.

It sounded absolutely heavenly- like a far off dream- and he desired nothing more than just a few minutes of shut eye. With nobody else to take watch though, he had to remain awake no matter how painful it was to keep his eyes open. Their safety depended on it.

Lumiya suddenly began to stir in her sleep, her body shivering and her eyelids fluttering open. Her dainty hands started to reach out, grasping into thin air as if she were trying to take hold of something that wasn't there. Filled with concern, the clone jumped up, rushing to her side and kneeling down beside her.

"Commander, are you awake?" He asked softly, gently resting his gloved hand on her shaky forearm. She was quivering beneath his touch and he couldn't tell what it was from- the weather growing cooler, a possible nightmare, or something medically wrong. All he could do was hope that it wasn't either of the last two possibilities. "Can you hear me? Are you alright?"

Her eyes suddenly burst open, startling the clone momentarily. She lurched upwards, pulling out of his grasp as her eyes darted back and forth, scrambling to figure out where the hell she was.

"W-Where am I?!" She shouted in fear, her head spinning every which way as she desperately tried to make sense of the situation through her hazy and cloudy vision. The last thing she remembered was that awful sight- the view of a knife being plunged through her Master's chest, and the way the blood soaked through her tan robes. Everything else was just a diluted, far-off memory.

Rex nudged his head forward, returning his gloved hand to rest on her forearm. "Everything's alright, Kumari. I made a camp- we're safe here for the time being." He reassured her quietly, his voice muffled through the modulator of his helmet. The girl didn't seem entirely convinced however, her face still fear-stricken and her hands pulling away from him and reaching towards her belt.

My lightsaber… where is it?!

"If you're looking for this," he mumbled, reaching down to his own utility belt and grabbing hold of the silver hilt, lifting it up for her to see. "I have it. I grabbed it when I got you outta there." He extended his fist and unraveled his grip, the blade resting in his palm face up. With a nudge of his hand, he beckoned for her to take it. Her motions were timid, her delicate hand stretching outward in an effort to grab hold of the blade. Rex noticed how nervous she was and nodded for her to continue.

"It's fine- take it. I'm not gonna hurt you." He muttered, eyebrows furrowing and a frown forming beneath his helmet.

Lumiya peered upwards, gazing into the dark abyss of the clone's visor. Rex was taken aback for a moment as he was not used to such closeness, though he remained stationary nonetheless. He tilted his head just a smidge, gazing into the hazel orbs that held such confusion and fear, and was briefly mesmerized by the way the fire glinted off of them so stunningly.

"Take it." He said, gently grabbing hold of her delicate wrist and plopping the lightsaber into her grasp. Lumiya nodded her head, her slender fingers encasing the weapon into a tight grip.

"Th-Thank you, Captain…" Her voice was a scratchy mumble, so timid and quiet that it could barely be heard through the night. The clone simply nodded his head, pushing himself off his knee and standing up.

"Anytime."

Rex stared down at her small figure before glancing back to the nearby fire, eyeing the water and rations that were placed beside it. He directed his attention back to her. "You hungry? Thirsty? You've been asleep for almost a day."

Lumiya's eyes widened at the revelation. "A-A day?"

"Yes, but I didn't know what was wrong with you. Figured it was best just to let you sleep it off- everything considered." He said with an uneasy shrug and motion of his hands, the reference to the previous day's events sending a chill down Lumiya's spine.

She instinctively glanced down, focusing her vision on the lightsaber gripped firmly in her hand, and watched as her fingers tightened around the silver metal until her knuckles turned white. The Padawan couldn't believe it had already been almost an entire day since everything happened, since the horrible and meticulously planned ambush- since her Master was killed.

She shook her head, knocking the horrible thoughts out of her mind before returning her focus to Rex. "Thank you again… for letting me rest. Though I do feel bad if you've been awake yourself this entire time, Captain." Lumiya murmured, bashfully casting her gaze away from the tall clone. "I don't know why I was unconscious for so long, but I'm terribly sorry that I was."

Rex shook his hand, dismissing her apologies. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're awake and well rested because now we can finally discuss getting off this damn rock."

Lumiya looked up at him, cocking her head to the side. "Well, we're not going to be able to do anything until you get some rest as well, Captain. I can't have you falling asleep mid-escape." She muttered with a soft chuckle, peering upwards into the T-shaped visor.

"I'll be fine." He said simply, not wanting to admit that he was beyond the point of exhaustion. Lumiya tilted her head in uncertainty, not believing a word he said but deciding not to press the matter any further. She glanced towards the food and water, the realization of just how hungry and thirsty she was dawning upon her.

"Alright, we can discuss the matters at hand while I eat then."

"Fine by me, Commander."

The Padawan frowned, briefly casting her gaze to the lightsaber in her hand. She knew that she was technically always a commander but it just didn't feel right, especially not now- not with Master Saadasa being dead. Her grip tightened around the hilt for a moment before her fingers finally relaxed, realizing that this was an internal fight for another day and time; dwelling on the past certainty wasn't going to help her in the present. She stood up, sweeping her robes to the side and clipping the blade to her belt with ease.

"Now then, shall we eat?" Lumiya asked, giving a smile to the clone Captain in an effort to ignore the nightmarish past day. Just as the Padawan wasn't convinced that Rex wasn't tired, he wasn't convinced of her cheerful attitude either. Not wanting to overstep any boundaries however, the clone simply sighed, nodding his head in agreement.

The two walked towards the fire, plopping down beside each other before rifling through their limited supplies. Lumiya spotted a ration bar and quickly took hold of it, taking a large bite and nearly crying in delight.

"This is probably the best food that I've ever eaten…" She mumbled, hastily taking another nibble from the rather inedible looking slab. Rex removed his helmet and set it to the side, cocking a dark brow and peering at the girl with skepticism as he listened to her outrageous claim.

"Now that is something I highly doubt."

Lumiya looked over at him, shrugging her shoulders. "What can I say? I'm hungry."

He chuckled softly, watching the girl tear into the ration bar as if she were on the verge of starvation. "Yeah, I am too, but I wouldn't exactly call that delicious. Nobody even knows what the hell it's made of."

She couldn't help but laugh a bit, handing the ration bar over to Rex so he could eat as well. Her eyes scanned over him as she did so, examining his features. It took a moment of her eyes trailing over the details on his battle-worn, rugged face that she realized that she had never truly gotten a good look at him. The two of them hadn't spent much time together and if they ever did, his face was always conveniently covered by that distinct helmet.

He grabbed the bar from her hand, biting a chunk out of it and hurriedly swallowing the horrid matter. With a heavy gulp and a shiver down his spine, the food was in his stomach, though he wasn't yet satisfied. As he was preparing to take another dreadful mouthful, he looked over and noticed the Padawan staring directly into his eyes. He self-consciously glanced away, clearing his throat as the awkwardness within him grew.

"Uhm… What is it?" His words came out quickly, unable to understand why the curious girl was staring him down with such intensity. He stole another quick peek, only to discover her hazel orbs were very much still trained on him. "W-Why are you staring at me?"

"I've just never really seen your face before, Captain. I enjoy seeing everyone's faces- it feels more… personable, I guess, like you all aren't just the same person dressed in the same armor."

Rex scoffed, a dry chuckle slipping from his mouth. "Technically speaking, we all are the same person."

"Not to me."

He felt like rolling his eyes. "Yeah, and why is that? We're all clones- each and every one of us. All from the same DNA and all bred for the same purpose."

Lumiya peered into his dark eyes, brushing back a tendril of blonde hair that fell into her vision. "While that may be true, you all are still men, and you are all certainly human. Yes, you may be clones, but you all have different personalities, different looks, and different names. That's why I enjoy seeing you men with your helmets off; I get to see the real you."

Rex looked down, growing flustered under her studious gaze and her kind comments. He knew she meant well and that she had a very valid point, but sometimes it was just hard for him to believe. From the day they were "born" on Kamino, they were trained to be soldiers, to fight and even die for the Republic if need be. Growing up like that, it was hard to see your life in any other way.

"Yeah… Yeah, I get that. But you see, I've trained all my life to do this- ever since I was created. I've known no other life but this, doing my job, following orders, and keeping my men safe. It's hard to see yourself as a real man sometimes when all you do is live to be expendable." He said, letting out a groan of frustration and rubbing his hand through his closely-cropped hair. Lumiya frowned, placing a gentle hand upon his wrist gauntlet.

"You know, I've never known anything else besides the Jedi Order… Ever since I was a child- since I was capable of recollecting memories- I've been at the Temple. It's hard to remember my parents… and sometimes it's easy to forget the beauty of my home world. So, I may not understand perfectly, but I do know what it's like to be living a life with one purpose. I know that just as well as any of you clones."

Rex's hand slowly lowered from his head before resting in his lap. He peered over at the girl, frowning as he saw her looking away into the distant night.

Huh… maybe we're not so different after all.

"Well, where are you from then?" His voice was gentle and a dark brow was raised, curious to know more of the young, oddly-captivating woman sitting beside him.

She returned her focus back to his dark eyes. "I'm from Callysia. Ever been, Captain?"

"Can't say I have. Ever been to Kamino?"

Lumiya peered upwards as if she was thinking long and hard for an answer, a small smirk growing on her youthful face. "Can't say I have." She returned playfully, lowering her gaze back to the man sitting beside her.

He chuckled softly before taking another regrettable bite from the ration bar. "Well you're not missing much, that's for sure. But… it is home- closest thing to a home that us clones have."

"Well Captain, perhaps my travels will take me to Kamino one day. Until then, I shall rely on you to educate me on the wonderful, beautiful, and always raining water-world that is known as Kamino, hmm?" She said with a smirk, her vision not once departing from the rugged clone.

He smiled, closing his eyes for a second as if to reminisce about his days spent on the dreary planet. "Not much to say about it but yeah, I'll tell you all about Kamino if you'd like…" His dark eyes opened once again before he looked at her, a pensive look growing on his face. "As long as you tell me about this planet- Callysia, was it?"

The young Padawan nodded her head before looking up into the night sky, enamored with the beautiful stars that were strewn across the darkness. "Yes, Callysia… I haven't been back since I was child, but it is a beautiful planet- I can remember that much at least. And the people are kind, especially the Kelsians."

"You're technically a what, a Callysian? Who are the Kelsians then?"

Lumiya's eyes fluttered shut, thinking back to her days as a young child roaming the diverse lands of her home planet. Her parents had a farm- she could remember that- and they'd grow flowers and plants to make dye to sell. She remembered the winding rivers flowing into the lakes, and the occasional dust storm that would come from the Kelsian Desert and blanket the homestead. She recalled the always pleasant natives who'd trek through the harsh and sandy landscape, slowly making their way to the capital of Calleesa to sell spice; they'd always stop at the farm to rest and recuperate. Unfortunately, that was about all she could remember.

Her focus returned to Rex, though her smile had begun to falter significantly. "The Kelsians are just some of the natives from before us Humans took over. They're kind, hard-working people- always pleasant to us, despite what our ancestors put them through."

The clone Captain nodded his head, following the young woman's words diligently. He was surprised to hear a Jedi reminiscing of their life before the Order- especially with such emotion- but he didn't say anything. It was human nature to do such a thing and after all, they were people, not mindless, programmed droids.

Rex was always internally conflicted with the dilemma of being a clone. Yes, he was human, but at the same time he was also purposefully created with one goal- to fight for the Republic and if need be, to die for it. It all reminded him of Slick and Cut- the two clones who decided to go against the grain; the first becoming a traitor and the latter becoming a deserter. He held no ill-will towards Cut though- he may have been a deserter but he certainly wasn't a coward.

But still, two men, born and raised for the same purpose as every other clone, decide to take their own lives into their own hands? It was beyond confusing to him. Sometimes he could understand Cut's decision to leave the army, to go and find a woman to love, to raise a family, but other times he simply couldn't.

The army is what he was made for- it's what he was born to do, and where he was meant to be. Not always for the reason of simply being created to fight, but because of his individual beliefs and thoughts on the matter. Yes, it must be nice to sit back and relax sometimes, but he couldn't imagine never being in the military and fighting for the freedom of others. It's just who he was.

The clone Captain suddenly noticed Lumiya ogling him again and he sheepishly diverted his gaze, twiddling with the ration bar in his grasp.

"Something on your mind?" She asked, her words soft and laced with concern. Rex begrudgingly looked her way, gripping onto the inedible piece of food with a bit too much force. It crumbled in his hand and he dropped it to the ground, sighing under his breath at the wasted meal.

"Just thinking is all."

Lumiya bit her lip thoughtfully, cocking her head a smidge as her ever-curious orbs remained trained on the man. "We can always talk about everything, you know, instead of acting like it never happened."

It was one of the first definitive, out-loud acknowledgments of the tragedy that struck the previous night. Rex hesitantly looked in her direction, noticing the solemn expression now plastered across the young woman's face. Her gaze was filled with deep sorrow and regret, and she distracted herself by numbly messing with her hair, tucking the padawan braid behind her ear and sweeping the blonde locks behind her head. She was clearly awaiting a response from the man yet he didn't know what to say. All he could do was stare at the Jedi sitting beside him, the memories of the pain clearly etched through her features.

"I'm not the biggest conversationalist, I'll admit. I can even be… awkward at times. But I just feel like I need to get it off my chest, Rex. I-I've never experienced this before."

Her words struck a nerve in him; the innocence, the casualness of her solely using his name, her desire to talk with him on a completely different level than what he was used to. Rex's mouth opened up a tad in preparation to speak, but he closed it just as quickly. In truth, the man had no idea what to say to the traumatized girl, at least not in the current moment. He had suffered innumerable losses within his ranks before- many of them being friends- but he had never suffered this type of defeat, the loss of absolutely everyone.

"I just don't know what to do, or how to feel. I-I'm a Jedi, I… I should know what to do, right?" Her words started to flow out in a ramble; it was as if a geyser of emotions had been brewing within her, finally erupting with no way to stop it. "Master Saadasa… I… I failed her."

Rex's dark brows furrowed as he watched and listened to Lumiya blather about the detestable course of events. He wanted to be annoyed, frustrated, or irritated at the pitiful rant, but he simply couldn't. Yes, she was a Jedi… but she wasn't a soldier. The Jedi were never even supposed to be leading troops into battle, especially not ones that would consistently get slaughtered. Her first official mission with her Master and something like this happens? It was despicable and nobody, not even a Jedi, would be fully equipped to handle it- especially not a Padawan.

Tears had begun to trail down the girl's round cheeks, the droplets glistening under the soft flames of the fire. Her eyes were growing bloodshot, the once mesmerizing, hazel orbs turning into dark, dreary filled pits of despair.

"I-It's… It's going to be alright." The man's words stumbled out in a stutter and his hand reached gingerly towards Lumiya's tense shoulder in an effort to comfort the young woman in any way possible. Once rested upon her, his grip tightened, the gloved fingers digging just slightly into the thickness of her robes. It was a firm and slightly awkward gesture- Rex surely must not have done it often- yet it was oddly comforting to the young Padawan nonetheless. It reminded her of Master Saadasa, the way the kind, wise woman would always comfort her, easing her worries with such a simple touch.

The memory brought pain to her heart and she slumped forward, dropping her head into her delicate hands. It didn't take long for the soft flesh of her palms to become covered in tears and sweat, her emotions finally pouring out of her without an end in sight. She wasn't sure what to say to Rex and she was sure she must have looked and sounded pitiful, especially to someone of his kind. He was a battle-hardened soldier- surely he must have thought a Jedi was stronger than this.

His hand continued to rest upon her shoulder, his thumb gently rubbing the area back and forth. "I have lost plenty of brothers before, you know. They… were admirable men, one-of-a-kind. I know you don't have much experience with this type of loss, but it does happen, more than you can imagine…" Rex muttered, his thoughts lingering on the many brothers that had died over the years, especially individuals like Hevy in particular. The selflessness that was displayed by his men was unimaginable, and he knew that they wouldn't want him to ever give up just because they lost their lives. "You just have to keep the fight alive within you- honor their memory in a way that would make them proud. It's what I try to do at least… because if they died and I gave up, then what the hell did they even die for?"

Lumiya listened carefully to every one of the Captain's words, clinging onto the reassurance they gave, as she desperately tried to not drown in the overwhelming abyss of hopelessness that was beginning to envelop her. She raised her head from her hands and wiped away at the streaks of tears littering her face, sniffling softly as she tried to regain her composure. Everything was overwhelming.

Beyond overwhelming.

She loved the Jedi Order. She loved what it stood for, what it did. But this war? The countless clones that they helped send to their graves? The endless Jedi that were being massacred? The negative public opinion growing of the now former peacekeepers?

It was a mess. All of it.

Lumiya didn't know a life outside of the Order, nor had she ever wanted one, but at times like this she wondered. She wondered how different life would be if she suddenly walked away, ran off to a different planet, found someone to love and have children with, and lived a simple yet meaningful life. What would it be like? Would it make her happy? Or would it leave her unfulfilled and begging for a purpose in this outlandish galaxy?

"Rex?" Her words were quiet and her face was pointed down.

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you weren't in the military?"

Rex's reassuring grasp upon her shoulder faltered as he returned his hand to his lap, staring down as he examined the worn out gloves that he wore every day. They were dirty, creases formed throughout the leather. These were the hands that he used every day to kill droids, to defend himself and his men, to protect innocent civilians, to retake lost systems from the Separatists. Could he picture these hands doing anything different? Maybe working a farm? Caressing the face of a woman he loved? Or playing catch with his child?

He wasn't sure.

It all brought his mind back to earlier when he sat upon that log and viewed that horrifyingly beautiful sunset- where he watched his dreams fade into the night as quickly as he thought of them.

Could he imagine life without the military? Without his brothers by his side and the Jedi leading assaults? Without hearing the deafening sound of a blaster bolt piercing the chest armor of a beloved friend once again?

"Yes."

His voice was quiet and he didn't dare look up at the young Padawan. He was already ashamed enough to admit to thinking about a life outside of the military, and he didn't want to see the reaction of a Jedi hearing him say such a thing. They were supposed to be trained for a life like this- nothing but fighting and dying. It's what they were born to do and it was their only purpose in life.

"I-I met a deserter, sometime back. Cut Lawquane. He and his wife let me rest at their home after I was injured on Saleucami. Blaster bolt right to the chest- almost went clean through." He began with a dry chuckle, lightly tapping the spot right next to his heart where he was shot. "O-Of course I didn't know at the time that he was a deserter; I saw the kids and wife first, then I saw Cut. We talked for a while about everything- about why he deserted and what we were born to do. He asked me that same question, wondering if I ever pictured a life not in the army, but living the life that I want…"

Lumiya stared at the clone as he continued to talk, bewildered by the fact that he met a deserter, let alone a deserter with a wife and kids. Then again, she couldn't really blame the man- it's not like she never thought of it before.

"I asked him 'What if I am choosing the life I want? What if it's meaningful to me?' Cut was hesitant to believe me of course, but when I explained that I couldn't imagine our children living under such an evil if we lost this war, then he understood my point of view. But I… I still wonder-" His words were cut off abruptly as he groaned pitifully, throwing his head into those dirty, overused gloves of his. He could feel a tear beginning to cascade down his cheek but he wiped it away swiftly, not wanting the Jedi to see him act in such a pathetic manner.

The young woman sat quietly, her legs crossed and her hands resting on her thighs as she listened patiently to the man. She didn't dare interrupt him, nor did she plan too; she wanted to hear what he had to say, especially because she possessed the same mindset.

"I still wonder- sometimes- what life could be like… to not watch my brothers d-die nearly every damn day, or to live on a farm, or have children. I… I enjoy the army; I make a difference. That I know. But why can't we have both? We're not droids, we're humans. D-Don't we deserve that too?"

"You do deserve that. We all do."

Rex was startled by the sudden voice, almost forgetting that he was still in the presence of the young woman. He looked up, gazing into her equally distressed eyes and nodding his head.

"Y-Yeah, maybe we do, but I doubt the Kaminoans would agree, or the Republic, or even the Order."

Lumiya glanced down at the mentioning of the Order, ashamed for her viewpoint so horribly contrasting with the rules set in place by the Jedi. He was right though. None of them would support the idea of a soldier or a Jedi leading double lives; fighting for their people and having a family or home.

She knew that their focus had to be on protecting the innocent civilians across the galaxy, but was it really that horrible to want to fall in love? Maybe have children one day? To just take a break?

Distractions. Fear. Hate. Possession. Anger.

All reasons said to the Jedi about why they couldn't form attachments to individuals; it would always somehow lead you to the dark side. Lumiya doubted this philosophy greatly, though she could see how it could be true. But if someone was strong-willed enough not to let their emotions get the best of them, then what was the issue? She simply couldn't figure it out.

"I agree with that sentiment, Rex. I don't think any of them would ever approve of it." She mumbled, raising her head to look at the clone who was still staring in her direction. "I suppose I can always wonder though- imagine and dream of being able to fall in love, bear children one day, live in a peaceful home. They can't take that away at least."

He nodded his head, scoffing dramatically before he spoke. "Yeah, guess all we can do is dream, huh?"

"I suppose so." Her words were curt and to the point, the realization dawning on her that they'd most likely never get to experience any other type of life. It's not that she didn't want to be a Jedi- she loved it more than anything. However, it's what she thought of earlier, the possibility of being able to do both- to be a Jedi as well as something else, whether it was a wife or husband, or a mother or father.

"Well, should we get some sleep then? Talk about an escape plan early in the morning?" Rex inquired, changing the drab subject entirely. The young woman nodded her head.

"Yes, I'll take the first watch- you need the rest way more than I do." She said with a soft laugh, standing up and beginning to remove her robes. "Here, take this. At least you'll be more comfortable if you put your head on them, or use them to cover up." She nudged her hand forward, the flowing, white material cascading down from her grasp.

Rex stood up and shook his head in an attempt to decline her offer, waving his hands in disapproval. "N-No, no, I don't want to ruin them… they seem special- never seen a color like that before on a Jedi."

She thrusted the billowing robes towards him again, the material pressing against his scratched and battered chest plate. "I insist. It's the least I can do for you." Lumiya muttered, smiling up at the much taller man. "And yes, they are special, but they're already dirty anyways. One night of putting them under your head won't make them any less clean than they already are." She continued with a laugh, a pleasant smirk teasing her lips.

The clone hesitantly grabbed the robes before walking several meters away, rolling up the fabric and placing it on the ground in a makeshift pillow. He glanced over at her, offering a small, lop-sided smile. "Thank you, Lumiya."

She nodded her head before turning around, walking to a nearby tree stump and lowering herself to the ground, promptly leaning against it. Her eyes landed on Rex, watching as he walked back to retrieve his helmet and setting it beside the makeshift pillow before laying down. She couldn't help but nearly chuckle as she watched the man struggle to grow comfortable, tossing and turning until he finally settled on his back. In almost an instant, he was unmoving.

Guess he really was exhausted all along…

She smiled as she rested against the coarse tree, her gaze never shifting from the sleeping clone. He finally looked peaceful for once tonight, the rise and fall of his chest beneath his armor growing softer and steadier as the minutes passed. Knowing that Rex was finally sound asleep, her focus turned elsewhere- this time to the brilliant darkness above her.

There were no clouds in the night sky, the dazzling glow of numerous stars littering the black abyss. It was beautiful to gaze upon, something that she never had the chance to do on Coruscant because of the trillions of lights covering the ecumenopolis.

Her thoughts turned over to the deserter that Rex had mentioned earlier- Cut Lawquane. Surely he must enjoy nights like these, sitting beneath the stars and planets with his wife and children by his side, living the peaceful life he always dreamed of living.

Lumiya chuckled dryly. She could easily imagine living a life like that and could picture herself doing the same thing, only with a husband instead. The only difference is that her dream would always be that- simply a dream and never anything more.

Well there's the second chapter! I hope y'all liked it and I'm glad that I was able to slow things down a bit and allow a glimpse into the mindsets of both Rex and Lumiya. They're both very strong, courageous, and passionate individuals but they also have that little doubt in the back of their mind regarding the war. I hope I was able to portray that well- that despite them wanting to participate in the fight and do good in the galaxy, they also wonder what life could be like if they could do something *other* than fight, like our fav husband/dad Cut :-)

As more events happen on Seboo- as well as through other arcs that occur within the Clone Wars- their views and opinions will definitely be challenged even more. I can't wait to get to everything that I have planned :-)