Chapter 4

Ahsoka

I repeat: This is Ahsoka Tano. Is there anyone out there? Is there anyone? Six weeks. Six weeks I've been living in the jungles of Kashyyyk after my ship crashed. I still curse myself for leaving the Jedi Order even after I'd been pardoned. Sometimes I just pity myself for leading such a rough life. Even though I left the Order for good reason, there are many days when I would gladly go back. Except of course, I've got to keep my honor and dignity.

Kashyyyk is inhabited. So that doesn't mean no one is looking for me. Perhaps they've just muted me after I've blared into their signals non-stop. After all, an ex-Jedi calling the Wookies for help isn't usual. And no matter how much I walk around, I see nobody. That leads me to two conclusions, one- I'm going in circles and two-the Seperatists have taken control of Kashyyyk. Both conclusions are equally possible. Without my expert help, the Jedi mustn't be doing well. I may have left the Jedi Order but that doesn't mean I don't care about the fate of the world. So in case my second conclusion proves true, I run forward. My lightsaber's hungry to kill droids.

-Third person

"Check. I'm in pursuit. Suspect suspects. Yes sir. That just proves that I'm correct. Sorry sir, I'm going in now."

With that, Fox cut the transmission and signaled the platoon to advance. He continued to keep a close eye on Rex who was around the corner. And then Fox saw what Rex was doing.

"Sir, the suspect is taking with him Fives' body. I have no idea what he plans on doing with. I will stop him at all costs" Fox muttered under his breath into his communicator. And then he walked across the corner and shouted-

"Platoon! Open fire on Captain Rex! A Code Black has been issued against him by the Jedi Order and the Chancellor. Destroy him at all costs" Twenty men emerged behind Fox. Rex might be one man, but the Chancellor was taking no chances. No chances at all. Rex turned around and saw Fox and his twenty men. Rex was not wearing clone uniform. He was wearing a red striped shirt, a black pant and a brown belt. He opened his mouth and said, "Brother! Don't do this. The Chancellor is evil. He is controlling you! You can still join me!"

Fox's gun wavered. But waver it did only for a moment. "You're not my brother. You are an evil traitor" Twenty one blaster bolts were all aimed at the lone former captain. Each time a blaster fired, Rex felt a pang in his heart, knowing that there was no going back now, and he would never see his brothers again. Rex, carrying Fives in his hands, ducked with as much agility as an athlete. And then, with no other escape, he jumped. He jumped straight out of the glass building, shattering the glass. He fumbled with his belt as he fell at life threatening speed towards the ground.

20 meters from impact

He finally managed to remove his belt with one hand, balancing Fives on his shoulder with the other hand. He then threw the buckle-end of the belt upwards.

10 meters from impact

He pressed a button and the belt expanded in length and the buckle lunged towards the building. The buckle hooked itself to the building, 50 meters above Rex, after it had transformed into a hook. Where the hook met the building, glass broke, but the hook was latched to the building and stayed firm.

5 meters from impact

Rex broke his fall. The belt had cost him a lot but it had morphed into a kind of grappling hook and saved his life. No one was about, but Rex wouldn't expect anyone to be. After all it was a secret Clone burial chamber. The Chancellor had not approved of it but Anakin ha helped him set it up for the most heroic and courageous Clones who had died. As Rex descended, he wondered how he would accomplish what he planned on doing. Only once before had he heard of someone returning from death. And that was that kid, Ahsoka.

As Rex's feet touched the ground, out of the building came Fox followed by his twenty men. Rex did not want to kill any of his brothers. He prayed for forgiveness and then without wasting a minute, took out his blaster out of his pocket and sent a blaster bolt straight to Fox's chest. The bullet met its mark and Fox fell on the ground breathing heavily. "I….I'm sorry brother. I…I'm sorry…..y…you….are right…you always were…kill me….kill me…I have dishonored our brotherhood enough"

"No brother you've not dishonored anyone." Rex said but even so he shot another blaster bolt at Fox, this time to his forehead, to end his suffering. Fox's men watched in shock and awe. Rex couldn't take Fox to a hospital, he himself was a wanted man, and so he had to kill Fox. But he didn't want to slaughter the twenty clones around him. He kissed Fox's forehead, whispered "May you rest in peace" into his ear and disintegrated him with his blaster. He then stood up and addressed the clones in front of him, "Brothers! Commander Fox has died today. He was a good man, he was. That was before the blasted Chancellor befuddled his brain. Just before he died, Fox realized what he had done. He had killed Trooper Fives and he almost killed me. The Chancellor yet does not know that Fox has failed in capturing me. As long as he doesn't know, we are safe. A chip is implanted in all of your brains that I'm afraid cannot be removed. But I believe neither can it be activated under a certain time. We are safe until then. So till then, will you join me?"

Minutes passed. And then finally all of them said in unison, "Sir, yes, sir!"

"Good. Now let's get going. Three hundred clones are marching towards us as we speak."

Rex knew exactly what he was talking about. For ten ships had just landed at the Low Altitude Assault Transport, not five hundred meters away, each carrying thirty troops. And at the helm of the troopers was Tarkin.

"We're so screwed"

"Rex, ex-captain of the 501st, you have now been officially stripped of all of your responsibilities, duties and powers. An arrest warrant has been issued against you and it would do you well to leave Fives' body and follow after me."

Rex knew that there was no chance that his small group of twenty clones could defeat the three hundred clones that Tarkin was leading. Rex remembered Tarkin from a particular mission report….it was the Citadel…..Tarkin knew some key information and yet he decided to disclose it first with the Chancellor…..at that time it had seemed normal, but now it made sense, he was one of the Chancellor's dogs. Wherever Rex looked, there were more enemies. First Fox, now Tarkin, who next? Rex shuddered at the thought. He shook his head and decided to deal with the present. Though the thought of fleeing invoked shame and disgust within Rex, it was the only reasonable solution to the situation at hand. But how could they flee? Rex whispered, "What is your name?" to the trooper next to him.

"Marty"

"Marty, can you fly a ship?"

"Yes"

"Good I want you to steal one of their ships when it looks clear"

"Okay"

Rex dropped Fives' body and out loud he said to Tarkin, "I'll come with you. But at least tell me who you're working for?"

Tarkin laughed, "You think I'll tell you? Just come here" he said oblivious to the fact that Rex knew his master.

There were still eyes on the ships. Rex had to do something drastic….he took out his blaster as quickly as he could and shot at Tarkin.

The blaster-bolt ricocheted mid-air and Rex had to dive to avoid it. This time Tarkin laughed heavily, "You seriously thought that I'd come so close to you without a force field around me? You clones are so dumb. And now that I realize that you're unwilling to come, Squadron 1 and 2, advance towards Rex and arrest him!"

And two squadrons marched towards Rex. Rex knew time was running out. He had to act fast. He shouted, "I'M COMING!" as loudly as he could and drove madly towards Tarkin. He shoved aside clones that were making their way towards him and chaos erupted. Rex's 'I'm coming!' had caught everyone off guard and immediately Tarkin asked all the sixty clones of squadrons one and two to subdue Rex. But then they were so occupied with Rex that they did not think upon the possibility of Rex's squad of twenty troops taking action. Any clone that came close to Rex was immediately killed. Rex had overcome his struggle to take his brothers' lives, for it had turned into a battle of survival. In spite of Tarkin's instructions to 'subdue' Rex, the clones were aiming for the kill. As a blaster bolt missed Rex by an inch, Marty made his way towards Larty (Low Altitude Assault Transport)

Marty was actually a nickname given to him by some of his fellow brothers for the amount of time he spent in the Larty. 'Marty in the Larty' they used to call him. He'd grown to become very fond of ships, and though his main duty was that of a soldier he could fly almost any ship on any day. Marty recounted all of this and smiled. He was almost there.

The nineteen clones did not go unnoticed for more than five minutes and more and more blasters were being aimed at the small group of clones. Tarkin let out two more squadrons; these were aimed for Rex's squad. The clones could only take so much.

Fortunately, the door was open. Marty opened the door and entered into a galaxy of controls which were as familiar as day for Marty. He had no time to lose and started the ship. This was where the hard part started. With the ship's engine buzzing, all eyes were on the ship except Rex's, for he was the only one who knew that that was going to happen. That gave him the split second advantage and finished off enemy clones close by. Tarkin immediately asked two squads to aim at the ship and Marty swerved to avoid the blaster bolts. Rex pointed towards his squad and Marty understood. Unfortunately so did Tarkin. With six squads busy, he sent two more to cover Rex's squad and not allow then to escape. But that was a blunder, for outside Tarkin's force field the clones were vulnerable and it was target practice for Marty. Tarkin cursed to himself and entered a ship of his own and as quick as lightning rammed into Marty's ship. By then, Marty had loaded the nineteen clones into the ship and all twenty of them felt the impact of the ram. Rex dived, ducked and jumped his way through the clones around him, picked up Fives' body and reached the ship. The door opened just as Tarkin was getting ready for a killer blow. Rex entered, Marty swerved and Tarkin smashed into the ship's tail. It was too late and Marty swept away.

Auth note: I was busy for a week or so and couldn't write. I whipped this up as fast as I could. I wanted to finish Ahsoka on Kashyyyk in this chapter but I couldn't keep you all waiting for too long. How d'you like it? Please comment, follow and favorite the story if you liked it. Any old or new characters you'd like to see? Any plot ideas? Would you like to see more description? More about Marty? All suggestions are most welcome. The support I've received has been great so far! Thanks a lot to all of you for reading this. Expect the next chapter within a week or two; you can be sure it'll be eventful.

Cheers. Peace out.

WoF