"Rex," Ezra began, sounding as though saying the battle-tested clone's name was a request in itself. Ever since the food supply drop-off that the Empire had tried to thwart, and these Rebels had blasted their way through to make the drop-off happen, the teen believed he had the right to know.
"What's on your mind?" The gray-bearded man set his mug of grisling juice down on the console, waiting for the interrogation to begin. The kid was a wealth of questions and he never dissuaded him from firing them off.
"See…I was thinking…"
The look Ezra wore told Rex that, indeed, there must be something urgent on his mind. "Yeah? About what?"
The best way to begin was to start. "How do you know Quarrie?"
With a little smile lounging on his lips, Rex then chuckled. "Why do you want to know?"
Huffing, Ezra let out, "I just do, that's all."
"Yeah, I can see that," Rex acknowledged, downing the rest of the effervescent beverage, then wiping his mouth by swiping the back of his hand against it.
Frowning, Ezra forged on, "Is it some deep, dark secret, or something?
Half sighing, Rex confessed, "Hardly, but it was something I prefer keeping to myself."
Not to be put off, Ezra hounded, "How come?"
With eyebrows slanting up, Rex remained silent for several seconds, debating with himself. "Mon Calamaris don't like too much being said about them."
Ezra scoffed, making no bones about how ridiculous that sounded. "Uh, Rex…last time I checked, we're in hypserspace, with not a Mon Calamari within a parsec. How would Quarrie know what you're saying about him? C'mon."
"Don't let distance between them fool you, son. They're very disciplined folk, make no mistake," Rex summarized, hoping that he hadn't drunk the last of one of his favorite juices. Grisling fruit beverages always put him in a better frame of mind, but harvesting the seed-plentiful, saporific berry called for lots of patience. The elusive crop, found chiefly on lush worlds, was mobile. Harvesting was more like hunting, which called for skill acquired over much time. Talented 'harvesters' were highly sought after, who demanded high pay for their services.
Biting back a smart retort, Ezra studied Rex's impassive face. "Okay. If superstition's holding you back, I guess it'll remain a secret." He threw speculation in the clone's face. "Never took you for being superstitious, though."
"I'm not," Rex hotly retorted.
"Then, tell me," Ezra wheedled, brightening.
When Sabine walked in at that precise moment, Rex immediately had an audience, one he didn't want. But, he decided that if he didn't want any more ribbing from the cocky kid, he'd tell Ezra what he wanted to know, who brightened even more when Sabine took the seat right beside him. Their relationship had taken a turn for the cozier ever since he'd returned from his topsy-turvy exploit with Hondo Ohnaka.
"Is this a private briefing?" Sabine asked, shifting gazes between Rex and Ezra.
The Commander noticed how conspiratorial she looked, which wasn't a stretch; she usually did. As though she had a mind to take on the Empire all by herself. Her weapons expertise was one of the reasons all of them were still alive as it was.
Moodily, Ezra breathed, "Not really," but looked the part, and Rex just smiled.
"Then why are you whispering?" Sabine challenged, yet thinking her not-so-secret admirer looked cuter than any guy she'd ever known when he looked the way he looked now, all on edge and brimming with curiosity. "If I hadn't come in, what would you two be discussing?"
"I was just about to tell young Ezra here how I know Quarrie," Rex decisively divulged, all too eager to see Sabine's lovely face go all inquisitive.
"Good, because if he hadn't asked, I was going to. He's quite the engineer, and his Blade-Wing saved those miners on Ibaar."
"And us too," Rex interjected, his voice listful.
"Don't forget Captain Hera and her unbelievable piloting skills," Ezra eagerly cut in. He knew what a great pilot she was, but Hera had shown them all just how brilliant she truly could be, destroying that Imperial cruiser and flying rings around the rest of the Empire's evil fleet.
Scowling, but doing so enticingly, at him, Sabine mildly scolded, "Of course not. Of course not." She emphasized, "We have our very own Phoenix Squadron Leader to thank too. Captain Hera Syndulla, PSL." The pride resounding in her voice was affecting as the males with her nodded. She got Rex back on track with her enigmatic little smile men always found captivating. "So, what's the deal with you and Quarrie?" The short, reddish brown Mon Cala was a genius as far as the Mandalorian was concerned, a starfighter mechanic the Rebellion sorely needed if it hoped to defeat the Empire, the archenemy of the galaxy.
Rex ended the suspense, but before he did, he asked Chopper, who had since joined them, to go hunt him up more grisling juice. The feisty droid 'quarked' that he would, but wanted to stick around for what Rex had to say, first. Rex decided he'd give his audience the abbreviated version of the Mon Cala and his first encounter. Clearing his throat, which had gone very dry by now, CT-7567 began, "A nomadic Mon Calamari and this retired captain walk into a cantina on Seelos, strike up a comradery…and the rest is friends-for-life history."
Scrunching up her nose at Rex, Sabine ventured, "That sounds like a very pared down version of the story." She knew short and sweet, and 'I'd rather not get into it' when she heard it.
"Aw, c'mon, Rex. You can do better than that," Ezra grumbled like Zeb when the rugged Lasat was having a bad day.
"Maybe I'd be more inclined to elaborate if a certain mechanical someone would go get me my juice—first," Rex pointedly stipulated, giving Chopper the ol' needling eye.
The droid, about to protest that he was no one's slave, was beaten to the punch when Sabine and Ezra jumped up. He grabbed his empty mug, with Sabine promising that they'd find whatever was left. Since they had developed a keen liking for the juice too, they hoped there was a little left in the pantry. If not, both wondered if they could convince Rex to tell them more if they brought him some fizzy Lasatian ale instead, if Zeb would part with some. He liked hoarding his favorite drink, which Rex liked second to grisling.
Chopper expressed his desire to wait with Rex as the teens barreled out of Rex's quarters. When they came back empty-handed, after about an hour or so, their dejected facial expressions didn't make Rex more sympathetic. The only further thing he told them was: "To be continued," and, sulking, they left him. Zeb had been fresh out of ale. He'd suggested giving Rex water, and the teens had told him no way was Rex going to say anything else with that wetting his whistle. As soon as the hatch of his cabin closed, he waited, then opened it again, seeing that the coast was clear. Afforded the opportunity, he made his way to Communications, with the droid at his heels, and it wasn't long before he contacted Quarrie.
"Hey, old friend, how goes it? They keeping you busy?" Rex cajoled. His eyes twinkling as he waited for the Mon Calamari to respond.
"I'm busier than I expected to be, but it's for a good cause…"
"The best cause. The Empire are losers and it's up to us to drive that home," Rex insisted. "I'm checking in, just to check with you, knowing the private person you are. I need a favor."
A little static got in, but when it cleared, Quarrie's voice came through loud and effectively. "I'm less private than I used to be these days. What's this leading up to? What's the favor that's on the tip of your tongue?"
"The kids, Sabine and Ezra, they want to know how we know each other. Would you object to my telling them?"
Silence at the end of the transmission didn't hold much promise that Quarrie would honor Rex's petition…until, "I wouldn't. Not at all. If there is one thing I've learned since throwing in with these Rebels," he spluttered, "it's if we are going to ultimately win this fight, being open, honest and broad-minded, unlike the Empire, is the way to go. Don't hold back. If I were there I wouldn't. I've got nothing to hide."
Sighing in satisfaction, thanking him, Rex heard in the noisy background that Quarrie was urgently needed by someone with a booming voice. "Thanks, Quar, I'll see you when I see you."
"Make that soon. I could use your opinion. The B-Wing's current development is undergoing critical modification. Who better than you for a judgment call."
"Thanks. I'll be glad to lend a hand as soon as I can."
"Until then," Quarrie bade, "be well; stay safe."
"That I intend. I'll see you soon." No sooner had Rex ended the transmission, Sabine and Ezra were back in his face. They had snooped until they'd located him here. This time they had no intention of giving up so easily, both adopting stubborn poses, their arms crossed over their chests and their lower lips stuck out a mile. Chopper 'qlacked' at them and they glared at the pugnacious machine, who thought they were terrible with finding things. He knew where there was more grisling juice, but as he made to sail off, he halted dead in his tracks, remembering about Rex's being given permission to tell all.
When Rex told the bossy kids to have a seat because he had a long tale to tell, and yes, about Quarrie and him, speechless, the elated teens seated themselves, prepared to hang on Rex's every word. Once he got started, and was well into the telling, they began breathing normally again.
It wasn't until he was finishing up that Ezra erupted, "You saved his life!"
"And he saved mine." His eyes full of emotion, Rex paused, reflecting how he would always be indebted to the brave Mon Cala. Inhaling, he said, "Never let their soft-spokenness and gentle behavior fool you. They're formidable allies and we've got one of the best on our side."
Nodding in unison, Sabine and Ezra looked at each other with broad smiles as he remarked, "That's why we're gonna win. We're Rebels, and we've got the best people in this galaxy on the Light side to defeat the dumb Empire!"
Sabine, impulsively kissed his cheek, then joined Rex in applauding as Chopper whistled. "So, you're going to pay Quarrie a visit?" she asked, her arm linked with Ezra's.
Rex confirmed, "As soon as I can. He needs me. Any chance we could make a detour?"
Standing too, the teens looked at each other, then Sabine spoke. "Let's go tell Hera."
Ezra piped up, "I'm sure it'll be no problem dropping you off and we pick you up on the way back."
"Then," Rex rejoined, "let's go see…"
Last, but never least, Chopper brought up the rear as the party of four headed for the cockpit.