Surprise!

I'm back! I know I said that the previous chapter was the last one, but quite a few people have requested that I continue the story, so here I am! I'm touched you guys wanted more.

So this chapter, Ahsoka finds out what happened on Umbara.

Ahsoka liked her men. She enjoyed their company, liked eating and talking with them, being their friend. Yes, she was their commander, but she was also their friend.

Ahsoka also liked knowing what her troopers went through. Whenever the 501st went on a mission without her, once the men returned, she would ask them what happened, how the mission went, etc. She'd read the official report and ask Rex for his account.

This was one such time. The 501st and 212th, the survivors, had gotten back from Umbara a few standard days ago. But for whatever reason, the report, which should have been a brief, but detailed description of the mission, was surprisingly short and non-descriptive.


OFFICIAL REPORT – UMBARA

Report made to Jedi Master General Kenobi by CC-2224 and CT-7567.

Umbara taken

Causalities: Mild-heavy clone troopers, Jedi Master General Krell

End Report –


Ahsoka frowned. That was all there was? Sighing, the Togruta put the datapad down. She'd have to ask Rex then.

Ahsoka moved towards her door. Maybe the clone captain was in the mess and she could catch him.

The mess wasn't that busy, only about half full. Luckily, Rex was in there, eating. Ahsoka got a tray and sat down across from her captain.

"Commander." Rex greeted, only slightly surprised by her appearance. He started to rise, a force of habit, but she gestured for him to stay seated.

"Hey Rex."

They ate in silence for a few moments.

"How was Umbara?"

Rex nearly spit out his caf.

Ahsoka was startled at the wild range of emotions she felt from the blond trooper. Fury, grief, more than a dash of fear, disgust, betrayal, pain.

Swallowing, Rex looked at the Padawan before him. Aged by the war, she was still young. This war was already hard on her, he didn't want to add more horrors to her burden. Plus, he really didn't want to talk about Umbara. It was too painful, too soon.

"Rex?" Ahsoka's concerned voice broke through the painful memories. She was watching him with wide, worried blue eyes.

"Sorry, Commander."

"It's ok." She studied him, and Rex suddenly remembered that the Jedi could sense other's emotions. Osik. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Commander." Rex looked down into his cup of caf, shoulders tensed.

Commander, Commander, Commander. Ahsoka noted. Rex was being way more formal than usual. A while ago, she'd finally convinced him to be more casual with her. While he still often called her Commander out of respect, off duty and especially in the mess, he'd call her either by her name or 'Little One'. Ahsoka had learned that her troopers, when nervous, unsure, or defensive (or new), around her, got very formal and stiff. Something was very wrong here, and it had to do with Umbara.

"Rex." She said softly. The trooper tensed, but didn't move, still staring at his caf. "Rex, what happened?"

Rex made the mistake of looking up. Concern-filled pools of blue enveloped him before he hastily dropped his gaze. He sighed, hands tightening around his cup.

It was a while before she got an answer.

"It was…horrific." Horrific didn't begin to describe it. Moistening his lips, Rex glanced up before refocusing his gaze on his caf. "We lost a lot of brothers there. It was a hard battle…" His voice trailed off as remembered horrors rose in his mind. Waxer's face appeared before him, and he had to fight the bile rising in the back of his throat.

Abruptly, he stood.

"I'm sorry, Commander. I have to go." Before the startled Togruta could say anything, Rex was gone.

He was four hallways away before he slowed to a walk.

Belatedly, he realized he's interrupted Ahsoka before he'd darted out. Rex sighed. There was nothing he could do about it now.


Ahsoka watched in astonishment as Rex fled the mess, leaving his tray across from her. Astonishment, and worry. Rex had never acted like this, never. She wondered if she should go after him, but decided not to. The captain probably needed some alone time. She puzzled over the emotions she'd sensed when she had mentioned Umbara. Grief wasn't surprising, but the other emotions had thrown her for a loop. Fury? Fear? Disgust? Betrayal? Pain?

Ahsoka chewed her lip worriedly. Something had happened out there on Umbara, had happened to her men, her captain. And she would find out what, for her men's sakes.


He dreams that night. A nightmare, actually. Clones aren't supposed to have nightmares, but in this hellish life that is war, how can anyone expect any different?

Usually in his nightmares, he can tell himself that it's not real, it's not happening. Which helps.

But tonight he can't.

It's Umbara again. The whole mission of hell replaying without stop. The fire fight between his men and the 212th, with Krell laughing in the background. Shots flying past his head as he screams for them to stop. Waxer, his face contorted in pain. Krell, hiding in the dark mists of the planet, cackling as he slaughtered troopers. Blue and green light filled his vision.

"No!" In one motion, Rex was up, blasters in both hands, arms at a ninety degree angle, breathing hard.

He was in the barracks.

Rex sank down onto his bunk, almost falling, setting the blasters down.

/Kriff./ he thought hoarsely, running a hand through his blond peach fuzz, trying to regain his breath.

Suddenly it was too hot and too dark. Rex needed out. He stumbled to his feet and left the barracks, not entirely aware of where his feet were leading him.

The thrum of the Resolute's engines helped keep the captain calm. But the nightmare, the memories kept replaying in his head.

"Rex?"

Rex jerked, hand flying to his waist, even though he didn't have his blasters with him.

Ahsoka stood before him, arms half-raised, looking worried.

"Uh, C-Commander. I apologize, I did not realize you were there."

"It's alright." The padawan studied him. "Are you alright Rex?"

"I-" Waxer's face appeared again, and he swallowed. Suddenly he sagged, unable to hold himself up anymore. He heard Ahsoka's noise of concern as his back hit the wall. His knees folded, and suddenly he was curled up into a ball in the corridor.

"Rex? Rex!" A hand on his shoulder startled him. Blue eyes stared into his own. "Rex, what's wrong? Are you injured? Rex?" Ahsoka frowned. "Rex, report." She said firmly, making Rex jerk in response, finally coming back, the order helping clear his mind some.

"S-Sorry, Commander, it won't happen again." Rex tried to stand, but his legs wouldn't cooperate, and Ahsoka pushed him gently back against the wall.

"Rex, please tell me what's wrong. I'm getting worried."

He made the mistake of looking up for the second time that day. Ahsoka pleaded with her eyes, the blue pools sparkling with genuine concern. Rex looked away, ashamed to show weakness in front of Ahsoka.

"Umbara." He managed.

"What happened on Umbara, Rex?"

"We…Krell- Waxer-" his voice broke and he buried his face in his hands.

After several long moments, he moved his hands slightly and began.

"It started when General Skywalker was called away by the Chancellor…."


Ahsoka listened to every single heartbreaking word. Tears pooled in her eyes as Rex continued reliving his hell. Her heart ached for her men, and fury burned for the dead traitor before she pushed that away. She instead focused on her captain; right now he needed her help.

Rex finished, feeling drained and empty. He wasn't even sure if Ahsoka had stayed and listened, but a quick glace revealed, that surprisingly, she had.

Arms around him startled him out of his reverie.

Ahsoka was hugging him, tightly.

The padawan squeezed her captain, wishing she could express all that she was feeling.

Rex hesitantly, lightly returned the hug, before his arms tightened. He clung to Ahsoka, reassuring himself that she was real, that Krell was gone, that the nightmare was over.

"Oh Rex." Ahsoka said softly, so quiet Rex barely heard her. "I'm so sorry."

It was quite a while before they broke off the hug. Ahsoka stood and helped him up.

"Thank you, C-Ahsoka." He corrected. Right now, she wasn't his commanding officer, but a friend. "Thank you, Ahsoka, for listening."

"Thank you for telling me."

They walked back to the barracks in silence. Not an uncomfortable silence, but an understanding one, brought by being fellow survivors in the hell that is war.


They reached the barracks and stopped. A hand on Rex's shoulder made him look at Ahsoka.

She paused for a small second, gathering her words. "It will be okay, Rex. This war will be over soon."

"And when it is sir? What becomes of us?" He gestured to the door, where his brothers were. He smiled softly at the Togruta. "We're soldiers, Ahsoka."

"But you're also men."

He didn't have a response to that.

His commander smiled gently at him.

"It will be okay Rex."

With that, she headed back to her own room.

Rex walked into the barracks. The only other one awake was Jesse, who had morning shift. Rex hadn't realized how long he'd been in the hall with Ahsoka.

"You alright Captain?"

"I am Jesse. You?"

"I'm fine." Jesse walked out, leaving Rex standing in the dark. But the dark was nowhere near as stifling as before. Rex sighed contentedly as he laid down. He had a feeling that Krell, and Umbara, while not leaving his nightmares entirely, would be easier to handle.

He turned over and went to sleep.