DESTINY - CHAPTER 04

Rex was surprised when they'd let him out of the cage. Standing and moving had been a double-edged sword. He was sore, but it was a relief to get his muscles working again. His ribs gave him a tinge of pain, but he felt better than if he'd been stuck in a bacta tank for a day.

He made a mental note to thank T'annon if he saw her again.

The morning was cool and crisp. The camp was nestled in a forest of thin trees spread wide apart. Many were just beginning to transform from a lush green to a burnt orange, signaling the coming of the moon's cold season.

Two guards walked beside him through the encampment. The young human, Kip, was on one side with a blaster and the Togruta, Bandrix, on the other with the restraining collar control.

Rex thought about trying to take them out and escape, but by the time he'd incapacitated one, the other would take him down. He decided to bide his time, observe, and assess.

The cage had been situated at the outskirts of the camp, on the edge of a large clearing used as a landing field for two small freighter class ships currently on the ground. As Rex walked along he was surprised at how large the encampment was. They passed fifty or more small, prefabricated huts scattered throughout a quarter kilometer radius.

He estimated there were at least fifty to seventy-five beings of various species walking, talking and working on various projects. There were probably many more residents he didn't see inside huts or elsewhere in the camp. From what he could tell, the living conditions were primitive but the people seemed in good spirits.

Up ahead Rex saw a brown metallic building that dwarfed the huts around it. His guards pushed him through the door, following him inside. Rex took in the large, brightly lit space. Containers of all shapes and sizes were scattered around. Some were open with various types of equipment or supplies spilling out. Several work benches and tall wooden shelves stood along two of the walls.

At the far wall was a table surrounded by a group of mixed species. Some of them Rex recognized, including the Pantoran girl T'annon, the older Twi'lek who had saved him from the Togruta female's wrath, and none other than the commander herself.

Rex wasn't sure what they had planned, but the fact that he was still alive seemed to bode well for him — at least for now. Still, his chest tightened with apprehension sending a spike of pain through his injured side. He tried to keep his flinch from showing but wasn't sure he'd succeeded.

The commander's blue eyes followed Rex as Bandrix pushed him forward. He held her gaze with an unspoken defiance until he stopped a meter shy of the table's edge.

Now that he had a chance to really look at her without her boot coming toward his face or trying to peer at her hooded figure through the dark, he decided she was more attractive than he'd first perceived, even somewhat exotic. She was probably in her early adulthood, which would put her around twenty-five standard years for a Togruta.

Rex eyed the commander for another moment, then shifted his gaze to T'annon and smiled.

"Hello, T'annon," he said, nodding at the young Pantoran.

T'annon's face brightened. "Hello, Rex," she said.

"I didn't get the chance to thank you for fixing my broken ribs," he said. "So, thank you."

"It was my privilege to heal you."

Rex chuckled. "I don't think anyone has ever told me it was a privilege to heal me. And believe me, I've been hurt and healed plenty of times."

"The commander asked me to be here so that I might check on the progress of your healing," T'annon said. "May I?"

Rex wasn't sure what T'annon planned to do, but nodded and said, "Sure, go ahead."

T'annon rose and walked around the table toward him.

A voice came from just behind Rex's left ear. "If you so much as make her blink in discomfort, I will gut you," Bandrix growled.

"He will not hurt me," T'annon said to Bandrix.

"You cannot be sure of that, little one," Bandrix said.

"Yes, I can," T'annon replied glaring back at the Togruta.

She brought her attention back to Rex. "May I touch you?" she asked.

"Ah … sure," Rex said.

T'annon placed her hands lightly on the armor over his broken ribs. She closed her eyes and scrunched her nose in concentration. After a few moments she stepped back and opened her eyes.

"Your body is healing well. But you must still rest and restrict your movements," she said.

"I'll do my best. Thank you again, T'annon."

"You are welcome."

"Oh, and thank you for coming back with the blankets last night," Rex added hastily.

"I did not bring the blankets to you," she said.

Rex quirked his head. "But the commander said they were your idea."

"Oh, they were," she said with a grin. "But I was tired, so the commander said she would take them to you."

Rex pondered that bit of information. The commander had explained the blankets in such a way that he wouldn't know she had brought them. He was sure that was no mistake. Rex supposed she didn't want him to know she'd shown him a spark of compassion. She needed to keep her position of power absolute over her prisoner. He understood the tactic and couldn't fault her for it.

But still, it was curious and he filed that bit of information away.

As T'annon returned to the table Rex was startled by a ghost of energy that barely touched his consciousness. It was unexpected, but familiar — and completely out of place. His confusion lasted only a heartbeat before he realized what was happening.

This was the feeling he had when one of the Jedi would reach out to him through the Force. In battle, General Skywalker would touch his mind through the Force to find his location or determine his well-being. General Kenobi often did the same.

He snapped his mental barriers in place and jerked his head toward the commander with a knowing glare.

The commander's eyes widened and her white eye markings rose in surprise. She'd realized that he knew what she'd tried to do. She obviously hadn't expected him to notice, much less employ an effective defense against her probe. Rex kept his accusatory glare on her and was finally gratified when she looked away.

Good, Rex thought. Serves you right. That's for the kick in the ribs.

After a few tense moments the Twi'lek cleared his throat. "We need to discuss your … status," he said. "We have decided upon a plan-"

"Let her tell me," Rex said, cutting the Twi'lek off and pointed at the commander.

"Excuse me?" the Twi'lek said.

"If she's the commander and decides my fate, let her tell me to my face."

"Well … ah …," the Twi'lek stammered, "…we agreed that you might be more comfortable talking with me given her … hostility … toward you yesterday."

"With all due respect, Sir," Rex said to the Twi'lek and then turned to the commander, "I've faced a lot more hostility than a love tap from a pissed-off Togruta."

Rex heard Kip stifle a snort behind him and forced himself not to smile.

The commander's eyes went wide for a moment. Then they squinted together in a determined glare.

"But-" the Twi'lek started to retort.

The commander held up her hand to silence the Twe'lik but never took her eyes off Rex.

"It's okay, Dian'thy," she said. "I've got this."

The commander leaned forward in her seat and pinned Rex with a glare. "You are … a problem," she said. "You pose a risk to the people of this community."

"Maybe you weren't listening last night," Rex said. "I am not your enemy. I won't hurt anyone here."

"I know you won't, because I won't let you," she shot back.

"Just let me go and I'll be out of your hair."

"If I let you go it doesn't matter if you make it back to the Republic or if the Separatists capture you. You have information that puts us, and all the beings we help, in danger."

Rex held his tongue. He was a soldier and he knew she was right.

"So, as Dian'thy was about to explain, the plan is that you will stay here indefinitely, until we've devised a better solution."

Rex squinted at her. "No way! I am not living outside, in a cage, like a diseased animal. You might as well kill me now."

"I will gladly take you up on your offer," Bandrix said from behind him.

"Bandrix!" the commander snapped.

As she brought her gaze back to Rex she let out a sigh. "You won't be kept in a cage. You'll stay in the small room at the back corner of this building."

"What about this?" Rex said, grabbing the restraining collar with one hand.

"The collar stays on," she said, her tone making it clear there was no room for negotiation. "It will be calibrated so that if you leave this building it will activate. Then you won't be a problem any longer."

Rex saw the Twi'lek, Dian'thy, give the commander a sidelong glance. She didn't acknowledge the look and continued.

"If you're truly honorable, then your behavior will reflect that. None of the people here are responsible for your current situation, so they don't deserve your hostility. And let me be perfectly clear — I won't let you harm them."

"Like I said, I'm not your enemy."

The commander stood and locked determined eyes on him. Despite her slender stature, she projected an imposing authority with the power to back it up. Rex knew he would be wise not to underestimate her. Especially since she held his life in her hands.

"Do you understand?" she asked.

"Yes," Rex said, without hesitation.

Rex didn't need to argue about the situation. It was the best deal he was going to get. Much better, in fact, than he'd expected. He'd thought today he might be marching to his death. Now, he'd been granted a reprieve. And he wouldn't have to spend another night outside, in a cage, in the cold.

As Rex looked at the commander, conflicting emotions swirled inside him. On one hand, he was grateful that she had risen above her obvious hatred of clones and spared his life. On the other, he was madder than a wet tooka that she had decided to keep him imprisoned.

This female was confusing — a mass of contradictions. She was powerful and a trained Force user, but not a Jedi. Her anger and grief about the destruction of her race ran deep, but she was still capable of mercy even in the face of such a primal pain. She was fierce and Rex easily recognized an experienced warrior, but there was also a gentleness to her, especially when she looked at T'annon and her other friends. She could be hard and intense and even frightening. But she was also soft and compassionate and beautiful, as well. Rex wasn't sure how to deal with her, and that frustrated him to no end.

But he could wait. He'd continue to be patient and vigilant. To observe and assess. To do his duty as a soldier to plan his escape and wait for his opportunity. He'd do his best to influence his circumstances so an opportunity would eventually present itself to him. And when it did, he'd be ready.

"So, now what?" Rex said.

"Waunado will get you settled," the commander said, gesturing toward the small Ugnaught in the group.

Rex turned toward Waunado and gave him a short bow. "I am in your debt, Master Wright," he said.

Waunado's eyes widened and he smiled at Rex's use of the term of respect for the mechanical and technical prowess of his race.

"This is so," Waunado said, returning the bow.

Rex decided to extend a little diplomatic effort toward the commander as well. It might help to smooth things out and, perhaps, keep him alive a little longer.

He turned back to her and said, "Although I'd prefer otherwise, I realize that my life is in your hands. Thank you for sparing it."

For a moment the Togruta's eye markings pinched together, her face almost pained. Then she schooled her expression. She turned to the others. "You have your assignments," she said.

Everyone nodded and started to leave.

Waunado stepped up to Rex and said, "You will come with me."

"I suppose I will," Rex replied.