The walk back took a bit, with Rex limping along. Though, he seemed to be gaining his strength back as they moved along.
Aislinn didn't have to stay behind with Rex. But she made up some excuse as to why it was necessary.
"Wow, Rex, you were amazing out there!" Dominic exclaimed. He was definitely still young.
"That's what years of training can do. Just keep listening to your master – she definitely knows what she is doing by the way she fought that Sith." Rex gave Aislinn a side glance.
Aislinn smiled. "Maybe he'll finally start listening to me."
Rex laughed at that. "The younger ones are always harder to control."
"I'm right here, you know!" Dominic said, waving his arms.
Aislinn laughed along with Rex. She was beginning to like this Clone. She hadn't ever really had much conversation with any of them besides about the current battle or giving out orders. This one was... personable. He also filled her with a warm, dangerous feeling she had yet to notice.
By the time they made it back to camp, Rex was walking just fine.
"I think it's safe to say I can skip the medic bay and join you in report to General Kenobi," Rex said to Aislinn.
She gave him an annoyed look. What if something were wrong? Force lightning surely isn't that safe. "Fine. But if something is wrong, at least I can say I tried."
Rex smiled. "After you, sir."
She led Rex and Dominic to the Twilight, where a trooper told her Obi-wan was. They entered the ship and found Anakin with Obi-wan, their Padawans nowhere in sight.
"We heard the news," Obi-wan said. "Good work taking back the settlement. You two make a great team."
Dominic began to smile before he realized that Obi-wan was talking about Rex and Aislinn.
"And you, too, Dominic. You'll make a fine Jedi someday."
Dominic beamed at that.
"There was a Sith..." Aislinn began saying. She hated saying the second part. "He got away."
"There was one at the other base, too," said Anakin. "Daryan decided to play hero and got himself hurt." The last statement was said icily.
"Daryan?"
"Onasen's pupil. The one I am training," Obi-wan said.
"Ah." Aislinn nodded. "What are the orders now, Master Kenobi?"
"You and the rest of the troops are to go back to Coruscant unless otherwise instructed."
Aislinn nodded and left with Rex and her Padawan.
"Obi-wan is right," Aislinn said when they were outside. "I do enjoy working with a skilled soldier such as yourself." Dominic took this moment while Aislinn was distracted to slip away to the not commons to get some food. "We did lead the troops to take back a whole base."
"I enjoy working alongside Jedi," Rex responded. "Their powers are unmatched."
Aislinn's heart sunk a bit when he said that. He didn't enjoy fighting with her, just Jedis in general.
Rex picked up on it, though. Clones had a heightened sense to personal details. "Though you are by far one of the best I've worked with," he added. "Well, aside from General Kenobi and Skywalker."
Aislinn smiled at that. "Yes, it is hard to beat a Jedi Master." She then suddenly looked around. "Where is Dominic?" Aislinn sighed. "He is always running off. I need to go check my ship. I guess I might see you on Coruscant, then." What was she doing making small talk with a Clone anyway? Aislinn was starting to weird herself out.
Aislinn headed to her ship. She searched all around, realizing Dominic wasn't even in there. She decided to contact him through his comlink. "Dominic, where are you? Report back to the ship,
immediately!"
She sighed and sat down. It was like raising a child. Not that she knew or would ever know. Maybe it was just her Padawan. Sure, he won the tournament to be chosen for her Padawan, but with his skills came a personality to match. He had a lot of skill – just not enough of an attention span to hone it.
It didn't take long for Dominic to be back, out of breath. Even if he had wandered off, he listened when his master told him to do things.
"Where did you run off to?" Aislinn asked calmly.
"Um," Dominic said.
"What did you do this time?"
"Nothing! Honest! I just went to go eat with Daryan and Ahsoka."
Aislinn looked at him for a moment. "And did Daryan say anything to you? I don't see why else you'd be so defensive about going to eat lunch with a couple other Padawans."
"He said something about love, but I think it's stupid. He said um, something about how it starts wars or tears or something and it's the best feeling in the world."
Aislinn laughed. "It's not love that leads to the Dark Side, it's allowing yourself the attachment so that if something would ever to happen, the pain and grief would consume you. Love lets your emotions run you, making you do crazy things for the one you love that may not be right. I'm sure it brings happiness to many people, but it is surely dangerous to people strong with the Force."
"I don't need love to bring me happiness. Studying hard to be a Jedi and doing missions and learning the Jedi way is all the happiness I need."
"You must watch all your emotions – even happiness. I am not saying you can't feel them, just control them." It struck Aislinn that she wasn't taking her own advice. She was allowing herself to feel immense happiness around Rex, to feel somewhat sad when he said the wrong thing, and overall letting it get out of her control.
She was doing the very thing she warned Dominic about. The very thing the Jedi Order does not allow. If only a small crush, it was enough to spark something inside Aislinn. And if she did nothing, it could grow until she could control it no more. It could blossom into love.
For... Rex?
Sorry for the crap ending of this chapter. I wanted it to end on a different part, but that would have made the chapter too long. I also figured I should get the ball rolling with the Rex thing. I like to ease into relationships so they are more realistic, so bear with me. It will get better soon if these chapters have been boring for you.
She's not in love with him yet. Just slightly crushing like some high school girl. Even though she is slightly older than and should be beyond that.
I am on a roll with writing, so hopefully the next chapter will be up soon! :]