Twenty Nine

Rex put on his new helmet.

Jesse had managed to get his beloved Jaig eyes repainted for him.

He had to admit that he didn't mind the upgrade. For once, it seemed, HQ got it right.

The new armour was lighter than the old Phase I kit. His kama made from a new fabric was also easier to walk in , so much so he had to compensate a little as he didn't need to swing his hips to accommodate the older, heavier material.

He blinked a few times and the helmet activated a multitude of new heads up display options.

'They will take a while to get used too,' he thought to himself and quickly shut them down.

The air filters seemed quieter and together with the annunciator, it made the bucket's appearance definitely high tech. Even the ubiquitous black body suit had been given an overhaul. The new pressurised material lighter which afforded more movement to the wearer.

Rex lifted the helmet off and looked at it again. 'Yep, not bad, not bad at all', he thought.

They were awaiting new orders which meant they had time to get used to the upgrade.

Rex looked at his chrono and decided it was time to call it a day.

Heading past the rec room, he noticed a few five-oh-first looking at their buckets and talking amongst themselves. He was glad they all decided to repaint their markings on their new kit. It would be easier to recognise them on the battle field wearing their individual patterns. He had got used to them after all.

"What you think Cap?" Kix asked as he stood in the doorway. Rex turned his helmet over in his hands.

"Not bad," he said slowly. "Not sure I like this bit at the front, but it seems to make a difference to the air flow."

The medic nodded in agreeance, looking at the cylindrical components. They were all quiet and content. Rex enjoyed seeing his men like this, relaxed. They all loved having something new. They owned nothing other than what the GAR gave them. A new uniform or weapon as precious to them all as a toy to a child or an expensive dress to a wealthy Coruscanti woman.

Rex moved in and sat down next to Hardcase. He then began explaining the new icons in the HUD. They all watched with keen interest, lost in the next standard hour with the swapping of information.

All equal.

"You know," Jesse began in earnest, "I have this friend that says the Commando's new kit has a filtration system that allows them to piss in their suits and have it converted back into water fit to drink." His face beamed with the tawdry piece of information.

Rex laughed, startling the others. "Where do you get this stuff from? No," he raised a hand, "on second thought, I don't want to know." He was genuinely happy to be sitting with his men. His chrono beeped and he took a second to flick through the message and began to lift himself up off the chair.

"New order's Sir?" Kix asked.

He smiled, "Of a kind."

They all knew what he meant.

#

He decided not to enter the apartment unannounced and pressed the buzzer instead of the familiar numbers.

Gem was in the refresher when she heard the door ring. She had at first been startled at the flush of red. She was late and was grateful for its appearance, but had secretly hoped it would never arrive. She was now more annoyed at the presence of a visitor as she was expecting him.

'C U in 10.' That was well over an hour ago.

Slightly annoyed, she reminded herself that the Captain, her Captain was one of action, not words, and the thought of those actions made her blush. Lost in her thoughts she absently opened the apartment door.

It was him.

Startled by the appearance of the new armour, Gem let out a shriek.

"What, you don't like it?"

His voice sounded slightly louder as he stepped past her into the apartment. He quickly swung around and took the helmet off in one sweep. She smiled at the huge grin he couldn't hide.

"It's different that's all," she managed to get out before he pulled her into him and planted a searing kiss on her mouth. She broke away slightly for him to turn his attention towards her ear.

"Rex," she said

"Hmmm," he continued.

"Rex, please," she stammered out, "wait."

He continued his ministrations with his mouth.

"I can't," she said awkwardly.

"Oh yes you can," he growled as he pushed his tongue hard against hers. She relaxed and let him continue until she found a moment to move her face aside, breaking his all consuming spell.

"Rex! Stop," she said pushing him off her.

"What?" Confusion replacing the passion on his face.

"I can't, you know. It's that time." She didn't want to come out with the words, she thought he might understand.

He looked at her and then it dawned on him. A crooked smile crept across his face.

"Just because you can't doesn't mean I have to miss out," he said as he lifted her up over his shoulder and headed towards the bedroom.

"Rex! I swear - "

#

Rex lounged back naked on the bed, clad only in the woman's body.

He had masterly managed to remove her clothes bar her underwear which he enjoyed looking at. He marvelled at the pretty network of lace and the feminine colours always pleased him. He ran a finger slowly across the top of the briefs, feeling the difference between her warm skin and the delicate silk fabric.

"Rex?"

"Yes Gemma," his eyes remained closed.

"I want to go out for dinner."

His hand froze and his eyes popped open.

"You what?"

They had never left the apartment bar the time they spent seeing Reed during his rehabilitation. He had since been deployed to Corellia and had taken his lady friend with him. Rex was right, he never saw active service again other than being a desk pilot, which, after the ordeal he had been through, he was happy to accept.

"You heard me," she said clambering up his torso.

"Why?"

"Because it's what people do Rex, they go out for dinner and have fun."

"Don't we have fun here?" He rolled over on top of her and began kissing along her clavicle.

"Rex, come on," she pleaded, "I want to go out."

"In my battle armour?" He sounded annoyed and hoped that the thought of being in his armour would make her change her mind.

"Yes, but if you want to, I have some clothes you can wear, you know that."

Rex sighed. The time had come, he was now going to have to come out about his relationship with her. Everyone knew his armour, he had been on the holonet often enough alongside his General and young Commander.

She got up and smiled, genuinely happy.

He couldn't deny her anything and sat at the edge of the bed, looking for his clothing. She came back with a pair of black pants and top. Over one shoulder she had a Bantha leather jacket, the likes of which he had never seen or felt before.

"Your father's?" He touched the soft hide and looked at her.

Gem avoided his gaze and nodded. She came out of the refresher to find him fully dressed and looking at himself in front of a mirror. He had never seen himself in regular clothes before, and he kept staring at his appearance.

It was almost too much.

The new armour, the new clothes. Rex had a fleeting feeling of anxiety.

He smiled when she entered. She looked wonderful - the same cream and gold dress she wore at her inauguration into the Senate, the Narglatch claw entwined in her hair which cascaded over one shoulder.

He held out his arm and she slowly walked over and rested hers on top.

"Let's go," he said, totally mesmerised in her beauty.

They quickly left the Senate Building, she could sense his urgency in not wanting to be seen by any soldiers out of uniform.

She had booked a restaurant on the next level, which they got to via a speeder taxi.

They were shown to their table where he waited for her to sit before he did.

Gem watched him remove his jacket, the simple act of normalcy shaking her to the core.

They drank wine with tiny bubbles, that Rex commented on laughing, 'go up my nose'.

She giggled when he told her about the incident with Jesse and Hardcase in Fox's lock up.

The held hands openly, touched each others face and at one point, kissed passionately.

They talked more in the three hours than they had done since she arrived on Coruscant just over seven months ago.

Rex didn't know she had a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Gem didn't know Rex could speak three languages fluently.

She had never been on a more perfect evening in her life until he stood up and held out an upturned hand.

Gemma looked at it and then him in question.

"Dance with me? It's what you do on a date isn't it?," he smiled.

She took his hand and he guided her to the middle of the room.

"Rex, nobody else is dancing," she whispered nervously looking around at the people seated.

"So?" His eyes never leaving hers.

They had been listening to the piano player throughout the evening, enjoying his singing and now, he was playing for them.

Everyone stopped to watch the handsome Captain guide the beautiful politician around the room, twirling her elegantly, her gown floating in time with the music.

He held her to him with a hand in the small of her back, and as the song ended he slowly dipped her to his right, catching her mouth with his as he raised her gently back to up to her feet.

No one else existed in that moment.

It was just the two of them - and she wanted it to last forever.

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