Britk Joesh, a Tattooine moisture farmer, sat in the far back of the bar. He had stood when the bounty hunter had turned his gun onto Zakk, but was too late to save him.
The smell of burnt flesh and plasma hung in the hot, dusty air when Britk reached his friend's side.
"Zakk? Are you okay? Who was it?" Britk questioned, pushing his brown hair from deep, supernaturally green eyes.
Zakk choked and coughed, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to breath around the blood trickling into his lungs.
A trembling hand travelled up Britk's arm, grabbing tightly onto the front of his shirt as Zakk pulled him down close, so that Britk might be able to hear his soft, sad but triumphant, words.
"He... He's come... Just as he said..." Zakk gagged and paused briefly, forcing himself to continue. He knew his life was over, but he may still be able to save several others. "You must... warn them, Britk... Promise me you'll..."
Britk tearfully gripped Zakk's hand as the human thrashed in an attempt to clear his airways. "Promise me..."
"I promise, Zakk." Britk whispered softly. "They will hear of it."
Zakk relaxed and smiled, saying one last triumphant sentence: "I... told him they... were... on... Nar Shadaa..."
Britk looked down at Zakk, and realized he had finally died, triumphant and victorious to the very last breath, a soft smile on his face.
"Rest in peace, Zakk. They shall receive their warning." Britk promised, closing his eyes before getting up and leaving the bar.
"Where is he now?" Rex, former captain of the 501st Legion, paced the room, rubbing his grimed hands over his face, leaving streaks and smudges were the dirt was smeared.
"Zakk sent him to Nar Shadaa." Brikt responded, prideful at his old friends final rebellion. "You're safe for now."
"Yes, but Zakk was sacrificed." The orange Togrutan, Ahsoka Tano, reminded them both, causing a pang of sadness to touch Britk's heart.
"Yes, miss, but Zakk would've died for all of you seven times if he felt you were endangered." He responded confidently, happy that the ex-Jedi cared for his fallen friend. "His very last words were that I warn you. He made me promise."
Rex sighed sadly, his face etched with the pain and torture of the past years, and the fear and exhaustion of the present. "He's getting closer." He whispered. "I need to know why... or when he will find us."
"Rex, could it be for?" Ahsoka refused to finish the sentence, although the fear was clear in her blue eyes.
"No." Rex responded abruptly. "No. He couldn't know about that." He resumed pacing, this new fact weighing down on his heart. "And personally, he isn't ready to know."
"Why not?" Britk asked, curious.
"Because it will only break him more... Destroy him." Rex shook his head and paused in his pacing, if only for a moment.
"You know that Cody will eventually find out." Ahsoka spoke softly, almost afraid to voice it.
Rex looked at her. "It isn't Cody. Cody died. This monster is CC-2224."
Brikt nodded sadly. "Well, you're safe now." He smiled and turned to leave the humble farmhouse. "If you need something, call for me. Zakk gave his life for all of you, and I will not hesitate to do the same."
"Thank you, Britk!" Ahsoka called after him, the farmer smiled and waved.
Ahsoka looked at Rex as he continued his agitated pacing. "Rex. Calm down. Cody's gone. He won't be back for another few years! Maybe longer."
"No!" Rex's sharp tone caused Ahsoka to jump. "I'm sorry, Ahsoka. You just don't know Cody. I, however do." Rex continued pacing. "It won't take him long to realize he's been deceived."
Silence reigned as Ahsoka sat down, on the edge of the seat, poised as if to attack, attempting to force herself to relax.
"What do we do?" She asked softly.
Rex looked at her, blame and guilt heavy in his expression. "I wish I could bring you to Mandalore. But they're so against Jedi..." Rex finally stopped pacing and sat next to her. "We can't keep running. We came here because Anakin... Vader. hates this planet and wouldn't get close enough to feel you." Rex paused. "But now... Now Cody's looking for us."
"Rex... We don't know what happened to him. He may not have..." Ahsoka stopped.
"We have to be ready for him, Ahsoka. Friend or not, it's not Cody. Not anymore." Rex looked at her, brown eyes full of misery and guilt. "You have felt his feelings. You know what his heart seeks... I only wish that I had protected you better."
"You've done all you can, Rex." Ahsoka placed a hand to the side of his face. "We're happy. And these years of happiness are all that's important to me."
Rex got up and opened a small chest, pulling out his old, twin pistols.
"Rex? What're you doing?" Ahsoka asked carefully, although she detected a small tremor in her voice.
"Protect you. Protect Orixix and Blit... Kill him. If I must." Rex placed the guns in his belt.
Ahsoka got up and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know what it is he seeks, Rex. But why? That is a different matter entirely." She looked into his eyes. "A matter than can save us all, including Cody, if we can discover the cause for his hate."
Rex looked up at her, his brown eyes haunted with memories of the past, and the fear of being hunted down like a deranged dog. "I wish I knew. If I did, I'd know how to fix it."
"We'll be fine, Rex. Everything will turn out." Ahsoka smiled up at him, taking his hands in hers.
"I know." Rex smiled back. "I'll make sure of it."