It was midmorning when the crew finally arrived back on Coruscant. Their story was set and if anyone asked they would all respond with a recount of the events that matched. The only thing that needed to be altered from the truth was how the Madam had died.
Rex was instructed by General Skywalker to have everyone pack up after training for the day was done. The Resolute had finished repairs and the final safety checks were being run now. They could be leaving as soon as tonight.
The Captain made his way to the vast training room, Kix following closely behind. He entered the room and smiled at the chaos that was taking place. He assumed it was some sort of training exercise, but it looked like a giant game of tag. Grey and blue armored soldiers alike were running back and forth across the room. People were getting tripped and tackled all over the place.
He walked forward into the middle of the madness to try and figure out exactly what it was they were playing. Suddenly, a short trooper streaked past him, a small flag tucked into his belt. As he ran past, the trooper let out a joyous laugh.
Rex smiled as he recognized Dagger. He ran to the opposite side of the room, easily ducking and dodging around anyone who tried to get in his way. Once at the wall, he scampered up the scaffolding that had been set up.
Standing on the top of the platform, he waved the flag in the air and cried out, "VICTORY!"
There was a chorus of cheers and a few groans at the exclamation. Everyone came to a halt, it would seem that the game was over. He could see Dagger's chest heaving from the exertion. His shoulders were pushed back and his chin tipped up. Rex could almost see the smile from behind the helmet even though the armor never changed it's unrelenting shape.
Dagger scanned the crowd below, high on adrenaline and the thrill of winning. She spotted the pair of soldiers who had not been there during the game, "Rex and Kix are back!"
There was another round of cheers, this time only from the blue clad soldiers. Wolffe got up quickly from where he had been tackled to the ground by Sinker. The trooper had apparently forgotten which side he was on. He had to go talk to Rex before anyone else got to him. The Commander pushed through the crowd and grabbed a hold of the Captain's pauldron and pulled him away from everyone and out the door.
Dagger climbed down from the scaffolding and scanned the heads for Rex. She wanted to go say hi and ask about how the trip went. If she was being honest with herself she was really worried about what the Madam had said to them. Had she revealed her secret? What if the one who had always told her to hide, was the one to bring her secret into the light of recognition?
She looked and looked but she couldn't find Rex. He seemed to have disappeared in the short time it had taken her to climb down. However, she had spotted the next best thing. Kix.
They seemed to lock eyes at the same time. Kix seemed to light up as he saw her and gestured for her to follow as he left the training room. She pushed through everyone who was gathered and followed as quickly as she could.
She finally caught up to him in a seemingly abandoned hallway. She started to open her mouth to speak, but stopped as he tore off his helmet. His face was lit up in a bright smile and he wrapped her in the strongest bear hug of her life.
"Dagger, you are perfect. Perfect in every way, I don't care what that woman told you. You are perfect, you are wanted, and you are loved by all of your brothers," he said quietly into her ear.
She stiffened at his words, shocked at the sudden and adamant praise. She looked into his eyes as he held her back by her shoulders. She searched for meaning and she saw his resolve, his understanding. He knew.
Her breaths came quickly and she felt her head spin. He knew, no, this was all a mistake. It had all happened so fast. Rex had just told her he was going, she hadn't even considered the consequences until he was already gone. She should have known, should have insisted they stayed. She had already escaped, there was no way for the Madam to hurt her here. She should have made them give up their mission.
Kix felt Dagger start to breath heavy, something was wrong. As her knees buckled he held her under the arms and gently lowered her to the ground. He tried to talk to her but she seemed stuck in her own mind.
She found herself kneeling on the floor, Kix's face close in front of hers. He was saying something, but she couldn't hear it over the sound of ringing in her own ears. She felt hot, everything was sweaty, her heartbeat was erratic. Frantically, she tore off her gloves, anything to try and get cool. Her armor was suffocating
He really wished he could get the helmet off of her so he could get some readings off of her. Then, he would be able to tell what she was responding to in his efforts to get her attention.
Her helmet finally snapped up and he could hear her voice rasp, the subtle humm of a voice modulator was apparent. So light that no one would ever notice if they weren't listening for it.
"Does he know?"
He shook his head, "I'm the only one who knows Dagger. You don't have to be afraid. I'm not going to tell anyone I don't have to. I took an oath as a medic to protect my patients. I will protect your secret."
She shook her head, hands coming up to hold the sides of her helmet, "Don't send me away Kix. Please don't let them send me away."
"No!" he grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. He spoke firmly, "No, stop talking like that! You need to trust me and you need to trust your brothers. We would not trade you away just because you are different. I will forever be thankful to know that I have a sister and that she is perfect in every way."
She tilted her head at his words, "You don't think I'm a mistake?"
"Never Dagger, everyone is made for a reason beyond this war. Nothing could ever make me think you are a mistake."
"Promise me you won't tell anyone else."
Kix looked down, "I can't do that. I have to tell my other medics. It could save your life Dagger, they need to know. But outside of them I will not tell anyone, I give you my word."
"Can I trust you Kix?" she asked.
"Always. You are my little sister and there is nothing I wouldn't do for you."
"Do you want to see?"
He put his hand on top of her helmet, holding it in place, "Only if you are comfortable with that. I don't want to freak you out anymore than you already are."
"Kix!" came a call from down the corridor.
He gave her a wink before extending a hand and pulling them both up off the floor. He turned and greeted Rex as he came down the hallway. The man came to a halt in front of the pair.
"Ah, I was just going to ask if you had seen Dagger," he said, "I got caught up talking to Commander Wolffe."
Dagger tried to get her hands to stop shaking. It was amazing that she was able to keep the rest of her body from trembling, but the hands she couldn't stop. She held them behind her back so that way Rex wouldn't see. What would he even say if he knew that she was afraid?
"Kix, could I talk to Dagger for a bit?"
"Sure thing Captain," the medic nodded and pushed Dagger along when her feet seemed to be stuck. As she passed he whispered in her ear, "Trust him kid."
Steeling her nerves, she followed Rex to where he was leading her. They ended up in his room, he was quieter than usual. He took a seat on the desk chair and she sat at the foot of his bed.
He seemed just as nervous and jittery as she was. Dagger couldn't figure out why he would be nervous, unless he had found out. She really hoped that wasn't the case, she cared about him and the friendship that they had. She wanted to stay that way. Kix had said to trust him so that is what she was going to do.
"We found the Kaminoan who trained you. Her name is Madam Ker'taa," his voice seemed detached from his words, "General Shaak'ti ordered her arrest immediately when she heard about what had happened to you. So General Skywalker arrested her and we were bringing the criminal back to the ship to bring her to Coruscant."
Dagger tensed, "She's here on Coruscant?"
She had thought that she had put it all behind her. All of the fear of pain and loneliness. Just one mention of that woman being near gripped her to the very soul and she had to fight her instincts to run.
"No," Rex looked her in the eyes, "In the hangar she broke free of her cuffs and attacked me. She grabbed one of my blasters. She was going to-"
He cut himself off to take a deep breath, "General Skywalker stopped her. She is dead and she will never hurt you or anyone else ever again."
She looked in his eyes and saw hesitation. There was something he wasn't telling her. He was hiding?
"Captain?"
She knew something was definitely wrong when he looked away, not even correcting her for calling him Captain. His shoulders hunched and he looked very small in that moment.
"Rex? What's wrong?" she leaned forward and placed a hand on his knee, trying to comfort him in anyway she could.
His hands tightened into fists, "I hate lying. It's not fair. I did the right thing but if anyone knows it I will be sent away for reconditioning."
"The General didn't kill her did he?"
"I did," his voice was icy now, "I killed her and I am glad it was me. She deserved it. She said awful things about you, lying to try and save her own skin. She was an abuser and a coward. That woman did not deserve to live and I am glad that it was my blaster that ended her life."
Dagger was shocked into silence for a few moments. The Madam was dead. She wouldn't ever be able to see Dagger again, there was no way for her to hurt her now. It felt like a weight was lifted off her chest and for the first time in a long time she didn't have any fear in the back of her mind. There were plenty of things to worry about, but not the Madam. She would never have to worry about her again.
Rex had truly kept his word. Before he left for Kamino he had told her that if anyone hurt her he would kill them. He had done that for her. He had risked everything, his position, his men, all to kill the one who had abused her.
Dagger moved forward suddenly, knocking Rex back in his chair. She crowded into his space and straddled his lap, wrapping him in a tight hug.
He let out a small concerned noise as she did this, but quickly returned her hug. Even with armor on he could feel how tiny Dagger was. Growth serum was a serious drug and if it didn't work right it made sense that Dagger would turn out smaller.
"Thank you Rex," she whispered in his ear.
He smiled, "You're welcome."
She moved to get off his lap, realizing the awkward situation she had put herself in. Rex had other ideas as he pulled her in tighter, pressing their bodies together, "I think I know why you hide now Dagger."
She stiffened immediately, "You do?"
He nodded, "She hurt you. Scarred your face, didn't she? You don't want anyone to see it because they would look at you differently."
So he didn't know, she couldn't exactly correct him, "Something like that."
His hands rested on her hips, one came up to gently hold her neck, tipping her chin up to meet her eyes. Or at least as close as he could get through the helmet, "What happened in your past does not define your future. We all have scars and no one will fault you for yours. When you are ready, not before, I'm sure you will show us your face."
"Thank you Rex," she said, "I should probably get off you. I'm sorry for climbing all over you like that."
He didn't let go of her hips, a crooked smile spreading across his lips, "I mean you don't have to. You look good sitting in my lap."
Dagger's cheeks flared, a small whine escaping her throat, "I, uh, I am, uhhh-"
He chuckled and released her, Dagger scrambled to her feet and her head spun. Did he really just say that? Did he mean it? What was 'it'?
Before either could say anything Rex's comm chirped and pulled his attention away. He answered and had a short conversation with General Skywalker. Dagger perked up as he shut off the comm, "Time to go?"
"I think you've gotten in enough trouble here, time to find some more out there in the galaxy," he said.
"Sounds like a plan to me."
~B~
Hey everyone, thank you for the patience on the chapter update. I went out of town for a while. I hope you guys like the chapter and I will be doing my best to stay consistent with updates. However I will be moving into a new apartment for the upcoming school year next week so your continued patience will be appreciated. A new mission is coming up for the 501st, any guesses on where they will be going?