Akira grunted, ducking just before Rory's training staff swung by his head.

Rory paused, staring at Akira. "Are you alright? I've never gotten that close-" but he was cut off by Akira getting to his feet, swinging his training saber at him. With renewed rage. He wasn't in the mood for Rory's chiding, the concern that sat more than evident in the crease between his eyes. He knew something was plaguing Akira, but he didn't know what. He didn't know that Akira's mind was full of worry and fear that something would happen to Rex while at the citadel with Anakin. He'd heard stories, knew things about the citadel. If they were captured, he would be worse than dead, and the likelihood of that happening was extraordinarily high…

Akira swung the stick hard toward Rory's torso, but he moved just in time, regaining his balance and readying his own training staff. What he didn't expect was for Akira to pass it behind his back and strike him in the rib, then sweep his legs, knocking him to the ground. Akira swung over his head, the deadly arc pausing just before Rory's face. Akira's breaths were coming in huffs, the slight tang of fear in the force surrounding his friend tinging his own attitude with guilt. Akira put out his hand, helping Rory up. Akira knew he was in a mood, that he was being unfair. Bit part of his mood was that he didn't care if he was being a jerk. Rex was on a mission with Skywalker… he had a right to be worried.

Rory rubbed his rib, and Akira sighed "I'm sorry, I'm in my own head."

"I can tell." Rory said pointedly, wincing.

Akira put his hand on his rib, his breathing ragged beneath it. He pressed, feeling the force flow from him to the injured man. Rory's breathing evened as the bruise beneath the skin healed, the pain easing itself away.

"Thanks." Rory said, rubbing his arm "what's going on with you?"

Akira considered telling him. Rex had been three days, with little word from Skywalker. He'd slept little since then, nightmares of Rex meeting the same fate as his master plaguing him.

"It's nothing, just sleep issues bugging me."

He hadn't expected the look of hurt on Rory's face. "I see."

Akira sighed. "I… you can't tell anyone Rory. Please."

Rory tossed his staff to the side of the training room, pulling his shirt over his head. He pulled his blacks from his bag, stepping into them. "Of course not, Akira. I'd never do anything to hurt you."

"It... it could hurt others, too." Akira murmured.

Rory's brows knit. "Are you in trouble?"

Akira shook his head, "No… Rory, I'm with Rex."

Rory's eyes widened, pulling the blacks up around his shoulders. "You're with him? Like, with him?"

Akira nodded, his stomach knotting. "No one can know."

"I know, don't worry, you and the captain, you mean a lot to me. I just, I had no idea. You've never talked about him or anything."

"It just kind of happened."

Rory smiled, "he's a lucky man, as are you. You're both wonderful people I'm happy for you both. So you're grumpy because you're worried about him is that it?"

Akira bobbed his head.

"You should be able to touch base with their progress on the dashboard. You can check in on them there without looking suspicious."

Akira smiled, relief warming him. "You're too good to me."

Rory smiled with a small shrug, clipping his chest plate on. "I know that you're a Jedi and I'm just a clone, but I'd die before I ever did anything to hurt you. With what we've been through... you're family."

Akira put his hands on the man's shoulders. "I'm in no way superior to you, and I never will be. You're my family as well. Thank you."

Rory jabbed him in the side, "So the next time you're in a bad mood just tell me what's going on instead of bruising my rib."

Akira rubbed his hand over Rory's head like a child. "Sure, we'll see."

Rory pulled on the rest of his armor. He was to go on a mission with Commander Bly and his squadron to Ryloth. Humanitarian aid was needed for refugees, but no violence was to come to anyone. It would be a peaceful mission for once.

"Come see me when you get back."

"Will do, Sir."

Akira sighed, watching Rory take off with his helmet under his arm.

Akira took up his usual guard duties, keeping an eye on the temple and council meetings the following few days. The monotony of it was soothing, being as tired as he was, and simply kept his ear to the ground for word on the Citadel crew, and continued to check the officers' dashboard. It wasn't until he was in his small flat after duty one night, enjoying his dinner. His holopad was open to the nightly Coruscant News, listening for anything that could be of concern to the temple. It'd been two days since Rory had left on his Humanitarian mission, four since Rex had left. There was a knock at the door, but the person didn't wait for a response, pushing it open.

Rory dropped his helmet on the ground next to the door, and Akira spun around to look at him from the sofa.

"Akira what have I done?" He groaned, his hands on his face.

Akira stared at him. "I don't know, what did you do?"

Rory groaned again, stomping his foot like a child. "I'm in deep."

"Sit. Tell me."

Rory plopped onto the couch, taking a piece of Akira's meat with his fork. "On Ryloth, I brought a crate of supplies to a schoolhouse in a small village not two clicks from the ship… the teacher, she sat with me for a while… I stayed the night..."

Akira's eyebrow rose.

"I can't stop thinking about her, Akira."

Akira smiled, and Rory groaned, "Its not funny, I've never, I've never wanted to do something or had goals before… I could see myself living there, starting a life there."

"What is it you want to do?"

Rory laughed, "Ideally? Go there now and never look back. What if my service continues as long as I'm alive and I never get to lead a life of my own? I have half a human life, Akira I don't have forever to wait..."

Akira grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to look at him. "You're right. Life is too short to be a slave. If this is where you belong-"

"No." Rory breathed. "I can't leave my brothers to die."

"You've fought. You've done your part, you've suffered more than any soldier should in a lifetime. If you want to be with this woman than go!"

What if it doesn't work out, I'll be stick there."

"I'm not abandoning you, If something happens I'd come for you. Don't worry about being trapped. Please, just do what makes you happy."

Rory wiped the tears from his eyes. I can't leave the men. I can't leave them to die."

"Rory, whatever happened in the cave-"

"Those men died because I wouldn't open my mouth! For the republic! I'm not going to make their deaths in vain."

Akira shook his head, "Listen to me. You have done all you could for the republic. If I thought you weren't justified, I'd say so. But you have a past, a past that more than qualifies your retirement. You're suffering here. Dying."

Rory shook his head. "I can't. Forget I mentioned it."

"Rory-"

"Akira's holopad lit up, a message from Plo playing.

"Anakin and obi wan, they need assistance with the extraction. They've lost their escape ship and several men. We're sending in a team."

Akira swallowed. "I'll join the extraction team, master plo."

"Wonderful my boy." Plo praised.

"Grab your ship, you'll be defending the carrier with master koth. I have a feeling there will be fewer than we anticipated, but just in case." Akiras chest tightened and he swallowed, nodding. "I'll go as well." Rory said, grasping akiras shoulder. "Wonderful. I'll have you join me on the ship."

Akira grabbed his saber, his hands shaking.

"Let's go."

They ran to the hangar where Akira would board his ship and Rory the carrier. Troopers were running around them, hurrying to the destroyers and cruisers that would rush to save the team. Looking around at all of the effort,vthe resources going into the rescue, Akira couldn't help but think if it were just the troopers there would be no extraction team sent… but such thoughts were pointless now.

Rory pulled on his helmet, gripping Akira's shoulder. "We're in this together regardless of what happens."

Akira nodded, and Rory grasped him tighter. "he's alright, I know it."

Akira lifted off, trying to keep his mind off the what ifs and his ship tight against the carrier, his heart pounding. This carrier was rex's only hope. Vulture droid after vulture droid fell to Akira and the other's flying alongside the shuttle, trying to keep any and all fire away from it. Koth made an opening leaving the ship to grab the team. Rory was to wait outside the atmosphere, keeping the vulture droids away. He listened carefully to the coms, yelling and blaster fire muffling the voices entering the shuttle. He saw the shuttle exiting the planet and he rushed to be along side it, the first line of defense for the carrier Once back out of the atmosphere,

A voice clicked on his com.

"Thank you for your assistance, general kutae."

Rex's voice was hoarse, but clear as day. Akira sighed with relief, focusing his concern on the attacking vulture droids ahead. Now to get him home and in his arms.

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