Day 9- Ahsoka + 501st Buddies on a Picnic
Ahsoka had taken time to get to know many of the troops in the 501st. However, there were a select few who she had grown very close to.
Kix she met with regularly for checkups and so she naturally chatted with him often.
Fives and Echo had joined the 501st not long after herself, and so they shared that in common. With the amount of attention they received as well, they rose in respect quickly too, so Ahsoka saw them often.
Jesse and Hardcase were pretty close with Rex, so Ahsoka saw them all together, often once a day it seemed. The two by themselves were trouble though. It was far better to catch Jesse with Kix than with Hardcase. Though, Hardcase by himself wasn't much better.
Tup came later into the war, but that didn't stop the others from immediately taking him underwing. And with the others close to him, Ahsoka knew she should be as well. So, she talked with him when she could (as she did with all of them) and got to know him.
Then, of course, there was Rex. Ahsoka saw the Captain day in, day out, working hard beside him every hour of the day. It was exhausting, but bonding. She grew to admire him as a leader, a friend, and a brother.
She was close to all these troopers, and she knew they deserved something nice.
Ahsoka talked with Anakin and made arrangements.
The men were confused when she told them all she had a surprise for them. Even more baffled when it seemed to include going out; they never went out unless it was to drink really, and she wouldn't be taking them there.
But one afternoon, General Skywalker pulled up to the barracks in a speeder with Commader Tano and room enough for the seven of them. There were several different baskets as well that they were told to hold, but "no peeking."
Hardcase didn't get to hold a basket.
There weren't very many spaces on Coruscant that were green. One had to find an artificial indoor place with fake grass and even a fake atmosphere to recreate the idea of a park.
But there was at least one place. And the troops were amazed by it all the same.
It was a long afternoon, but a good afternoon. They were able to relax and eat good food. They played in the grass and rested in the sun. The "fresh" air created a nice breeze and Ahsoka had never seen her men smile so much.
As she rode on Hardcase's shoulder she could see Anakin capturing a picture of all of them. Rex stood admiring the artificial sunlight, while Fives and Echo basked in it, Fives laying down (he could be asleep for all she knew). Tup and Jesse seemed to be laughing about something, while Kix enjoyed a book.
Ahsoka took a deep breath and rested her chin on Hardcase's head. "Did you have a good day?" she asked.
"Yeah," Hardcase sighed and smiled. "I think we all did."