A/N: Some of the details in this chapter don't line up with canon information, but that is done knowingly for story purposes, so just go with it please. :D

New Orders:

As Rex ran away from Ahsoka with his men trailing behind him and the warning sirens wailing away, he received a comm from Cody via his helmet. "Rex."

"Hey, vod. What's up? Are we jumping to Mandalore?"

Cody snorted audibly. "Not even close. We're going the other way, to Coruscant. Briefings are coming through now. The Chancellor's been kidnapped by Grievous and the Coruscant Defence Fleet have engaged the giant clanker's fleet over the planet."

"Shab."

"Yep."

"What about Mandalore?" And Ahsoka?

"No idea, vod. I'm sorry." Cody, like many of Rex's brothers, had long ago figured out how much he adored the feisty Togrutan Commander and knew exactly what he was actually asking. "I'll comm you again as soon as I do find out something, all right?"

"Thanks, vod."

Rex was devastated. Flat out devastated. So devastated that he actually stumbled to a halt, piling up his brothers behind him.

I only got to see her for a minute! One shabla minute!

His chest felt like a Seppie tank had fallen on him, it hurt that much to breathe. Frag. I've always believed that the galaxy hates me, but this just proves it.

"Are you okay?" Vaughn asked, the unofficial leader of Torrent Company ever since Rex had become the unofficial Commander of the entire 501st Legion when Ahsoka left. (No one had wanted to make it official in case she came back, although Anakin did ask out of courtesy.)

"No. Not really." Rex said quietly as his brothers gathered around him. "We're going to Coruscant."

Every brother in the squad tensed.

"Not Mandalore?" Sterling asked in a strangled voice.

"Not Mandalore," Rex confirmed, resignedly.

They all knew what that meant; no Ahsoka.

Rex and the dejected members of Torrent Company who'd been lucky enough to see Ahsoka trudged the rest of the way to their gunship, ignoring the funny looks of passing clones painted in 212th orange. They crowded in, filling nearly every last possible scrap of floor space. But Rex didn't mind the crowded quarters; he found it comforting to be surrounded by his brothers.

Silence reigned for a minute as Stormy flew them out of General Kenobi's flagship of the same unofficial name (This was the nineteenth one in nearly three years, meaning the weary and sick of war Jedi had given up on naming his ships. Anakin now just called all of his the Reckless, no matter which number it was.), but then Ridge asked what everyone was thinking. "So that's it, then? We painted our helmets for nothing? Are we not going to serve with the little Commander at all?"

Kriff, why'd he have to spell it out so painfully?

Rex huffed slightly and gave his brother a light, admonishing smack on the back of his bucket. "It wasn't for nothing, vod. At least she saw them and knows we still think of her. I'm sure she'll treasure that. As far as serving with her, that might still happen if the mission to Coruscant goes quickly."

"Oh. That's all right, then."

"You bet your shebs it is."

Rex took comfort in his own words as pitiful silence took over the gunship again. The ride back to the Reckless was a far cry from the excited, chattering one on the way to Kenobi's Flagship that had heard the word 'Commander' about a hundred times amongst all of the speculations on how much more she'd grown since they'd last seen her, and if she was still as beautiful as they remembered, and if she'd missed them at all. Rex had let all of the chatter sweep over him as his own thoughts of eager anticipation had occupied his mind.

Now the anticipation was gone, but he clung to the hope that it would return again one day soon. He knew Anakin wouldn't want to leave Ahsoka on her own any longer than necessary when she needed their help.

Rex and his brothers almost startled when the comm unit in his belt chimed loudly. All heads swivelled in that direction and the thought of, New orders. Please let this be new orders, was practically universal amongst every soldier in the LAATi. Rex dug it out with barely capable fingers and pushed the button to answer.

General Kenobi's briskly walking image appeared. "Yes, General?"

"Rex. I have new orders for you."

Yes! He could practically feel his brothers mentally shout the same as well, their bodies almost squirming with anticipation. He slashed his free hand subtly and they all stilled into perfect statues. "And what is that, General?"

"Anakin has decided to split the 501st so that Ahsoka doesn't go back to Mandalore alone. You are hereby promoted to Commander of the 332nd Legion."

Rex blinked behind his visor. "The 332nd? Isn't that General Krell's Legion that he made extinct on Umbara before he took over the 501st?"

Kenobi visibly winced at the reminder of that complete clusterfrag of a battle. "Yes. I thought it fitting that you got to take over his Command. Please take whatever men from the 501st that you think most appropriate for a mission against highly trained Mandalorian warriors on their own turf."

"So, basically the best of my men," Rex asked, just to be absolutely sure.

"Yes. I've already informed Admiral Yularen to delay jumping Anakin's Venators until you have a chance to sort out who you want. Our battle over Coruscant is probably all going to be fought in space anyway, so I, and I'm sure Anakin, would prefer that you take the best to make sure Ahsoka comes out of this alive."

Rex couldn't agree more. "Yes, sir! Thank you, Sir!"

Kenobi's lips curled up into his moustache for an amused moment. "I had a feeling you'd appreciate the sentiment. Take care of our Padawan, Rex. Please."

"I will, Sir. With my life." His avidly listening brothers started nodding nearly frantically, so he added, "We all will."

"I expected nothing less," Kenobi smiled that gentle smile again. "Now, you might want to inform your pilot to turn around so you can come pick up your new civilian 'Advisor' before she ends up in the wrong system."

My what? Oh, Ahsoka! Right. Technically not a Jedi anymore. Got it. "Yes, Sir," he said enthusiastically before yelling, "Stormy! Turn us around! We're going back for the Commander!"

Kenobi laughed and his holo cut out.

The gunship erupted in cheers and flying orange helmets as it swung around and flew back the way it had come from.

When Stormy landed them back in the hangar of Kenobi's Flagship the 19th beside Lady Kryze's Kom'rk a couple of minutes later, Rex practically burst out the side door as soon as it opened, only pausing to tell his eager brothers to stay put or else. He ran back to the far corner of the hangar where they'd been assembled before and only slowed to a walk when he saw Ahsoka standing alone nearly exactly where he'd seen her last. Funny how that felt like ten times as long as it actually was.

His heart was still making a solid effort at pounding out of his chest with joy when he saw her turn around and smile brightly at him as she moved to meet him halfway.

He pulled off his helmet and grinned back like a little boy. His heart and soul settled back where they belonged and peace filled him.

My Soka.