Thirty One

Rex tried the comm.

Nothing.

'Osik!'

The past three days had been nothing but problematic for the Captain of the five hundred and first.

On Felucia trying to deactivate a Separatist force, Commander Tano went missing, leaving Rex to take the full brunt of his General's frustration of not being able to locate her.

"You had no communiqué with her at all before she disappeared?" He was genuinely distressed.

"No Sir," Rex felt helpless and he too was feeling anxious at Ahsoka's unexplained absence.

He had heard what General Plo had offered. "If you have trained her well she will find a way back."

Rex took no solace in that.

He wasn't a Jedi.

Rex was eager to find her as well, and blasting to the 'Nine Corellian Hells' whatever living thing had her captive. But then his thoughts wandered, 'what if she was injured and couldn't get herself back?'

He was torn, and now, he was unable to contact the one person whose voice he was desperate to hear.

'Fek, where is she?'

"Sir, we have a situation regarding the AT-AP's in the cargo hold. The HB cannons won't reload."

Rex swung around, "well, figure it out Appo." He was losing it. He stopped, and in a more civil tone added, "get Chip on it Sergeant, he's the tech expert."

"Sir," he said with a slight hint of sarcasm as he turned on his heels and headed back to relay the Captains order.

#

Coming out of hyperspace, Gem looked at the tiny planet looming through the circular window, her mind a million miles away.

It had been over a year since she left, under radically different circumstances.

"How does it feel to be coming home?" The question seemed innocent enough. Dr Sionver Boll knew the history behind her leaving and her arrival on Coruscant. Everyone had been talking about the beautiful young representative when she began her career in the Senate. She was also excited to see her name on the list of political members on the R&D committee of which she had been appointed.

It was generous of the young politician to ask her to accompany her back to her home world. Dr Boll was more excited about the laboratory facilities that her father had built specifically under the family home. She was keen to see what equipment he had stored there and whether they would be any good for her work in locating and switching off the gene the Kaminoans had used to accelerate the production of the clone army.

Dr Boll smiled knowingly to herself.

This was her way of apologising to the Universe for eliminating a species. All the damage the Zillo beast had caused; the death and devastation to what end?

She would lie awake at night, asking herself the rhetorical question.

What was Palpatine thinking?

She was confused now as to why, after spending a fortune on killing it, and having to rebuild part of the city would they assign her to clone another?

She didn't mind in the slightest – now.

She had met and become close friends with a certain politician, one who like herself, had a vested interest in the soldiers bred in vats to fight for the Republic.

She too, was wary of their initial conversations regarding all things genetic, wondering why the young woman was so intent on asking her about the complexities of genetic engineering.

Then it become clear, and she had in fact, found a kindred spirit.

Together they were going to do something about the premature aging of the clones.

"Ladies, if you wouldn't mind taking your seats and getting ready for landing," the flight lieutenant said over the comm link.

Gem smiled, "thanks Reed," she replied. He turned around to see her sit and strap herself into the seat alongside the doctor. He was happy to be recalled into service at the request of the politician. She had promised to show him her planet after all. One day she had said, always 'one day.'

And finally that day had come.

#

Rex walked down the length of the corridor until he rounded the corner and nodded to the Guard on duty.

"She's not there Sir," Vail answered as he continued to tap away at the data pad.

The Captain stopped and turned around slowly.

Vail quickly realised he had overstepped an invisible mark.

"Sir," he quickly stood to attention. "Representative Gem left for Oriis early yesterday."

"Do you know when she will be returning," Rex chose his words carefully.

"No Sir, she gave no indication to when her party would be returning."

"Party? Exactly how many left with the Representative?"

"Three Sir. Dr Sionver Boll and Flight Lieutenant Reed."

Rex raised an eyebrow at the mention of the pilot.

"Lieutenant Reed was flying the party into Oriis. Sir," he swallowed hard as Rex headed over to the station, he appeared not to have blinked once while he was talking. He know knew why the Captain had a reputation of being intimidating. Kriff, if he was a droid he would have just deactivated himself there, on the spot.

Rex nodded. "Thank you, Lieutenant - ?" He intonated his head in question.

"Vail Sir, Lieutenant Vail."

He saw a corner of the Captain's mouth raise ever so slightly, 'so this is the guy Jesse is involved with,' Rex thought to himself, never breaking eye contact.

"At ease Lieutenant," he said over his shoulder as he swung around and headed down the corridor and out of the Senate Building.

#

They were back at the GAR barracks on Coruscant and his General was lost in his grief of misplacing his Padawan on Felucia.

Rex too, couldn't get the young Jedi out of his mind, and kept reminiscing over previous, social encounters with the Togrutan. Gem wasn't around and he needed something to stop his mind from wandering.

Changing from his fatigues into his gym gear he headed to the one place he knew would help him refocus.

Pushing through the angst, he continued with his training regime.

'Why didn't she contact me?'

Thunk, clank, thunk...

He knew she wanted to go back to Oriis and he had mocked her when they discussed it, only now to feel left out – he didn't like the feeling.

Not one little bit.

Clank, clank, thunk...

Commander Cody walked in to see the Captain, training.

Rex was in peak physical fitness and was well versed in the ancient art of Eskrima. The Commander watched with interest as the Captain whacked the two sticks against the static ones on the training post.

"Need a sparring partner?" Cody inquired as he placed his pack on the seat opposite.

"Not sure I feel like being demoted to Sergeant, Commander," Rex said with a smile on his face.

"That'd only be if you beat me Captain." Cody smiled. He pulled his shirt off and picked up two of the ancient martial arts sticks. Flipping them in his hands he looked over at the ring and said, "loser buys the first round?"

Rex laughed low and wiped his head on a towel as he too headed into the ring with his commanding officer.

"On my mark Captain?"

They started slowly. Blocking and methodically clacking the sticks against one another.

Rex noticed his opponent's chest. It had more hair than his and even though they were exactly the same height, Cody looked bigger than him, thicker, stronger.

They quickened up the pace, constantly moving and circling one another until Cody took a swipe and missed Rex by the narrowest margin, his chin feeling the slightest hint of breeze as he lent backwards to miss the wooden extension of Cody's arm.

"Nice shot Commander, just – not – quick - enough." Rex grunted as he blocked another onslaught from Cody.

Then finally the competitive Mandalorian blood in them took over.

This was now no friendly spar.

Both wanted to win, they were bred to do no less.

Rex reached forward with his left and diverting Cody's attention to the upper stick with his eyes, he let loose with the right and collected the commander on the lip. Cody turned away and wiped the blood with the back of his hand, smiling as he turned.

Cody quickly began again and in three, clack, two, clack, one, thump moves, he delivered a blow to the Captains flank, bringing him down to the floor.

Cody turned and left the ring.

"Right now I need that drink, Lieutenant." He said as he grabbed his bag and headed to the refresher.

It had been a pissing contest between the two senior officers, and the Captain had been clearly outranked.

#

Together they went to The Bunker and sat at the bar, ordering two beers, the pretty Twi'lek bar maid smiled as she pushed a bowl of meju nuts towards the Commanding Officer. Rex saw them make eye contact and smiled as he placed a handful of the spicy treats in his mouth.

"I heard about Commander Tano." Cody was straight to the point.

"Yeah," Rex shook his head, "I should have been with her, not with the General."

"You can't cover everyone's shebs Rex," Cody said crunching on the nuts. "She's Jetii ner vod."

Rex took a long drink from his glass, emptying it, he looked at the waitress and nodded for another.

"She just disappeared. I spoke with the men. One minute she was there, the next - "

"Skywalker won't give up looking for her, you remember how he was on Geonosis? He'll find her and you'll get your girls back Captain," he said smiling.

Rex didn't bite.

"Where's the Rep, you should be with her ner vod." Cody was right.

"She's off world. Oriis. Gone home to sort out her father's estate."

"Ahh," Cody said knowingly, nodding his head, "so that's why your here with me and not getting some action in the Senate building."

"I think I got plenty of action this afternoon," he said rubbing the bruised muscles that sported a bacta bandage around them.

Cody laughed. "How do you do it Rex? Two of the most powerful, and beautiful I might add, women eating out of your rough, ugly hands."

"Same hands as you ner vod!" Rex enjoyed his company. It had been too long since they had sat and just talked. "What about you? I seem to remember a little Republic cartographer you were going into covert operations with?"

"Niki?" He smiled. "She blew like a so'wester on Hoth. Too needy though. Nope, happy to leave the complicated relationships to you brother. I don't need any more Mulack pups, I already have enough to look after."

Rex watched as Cody finished his drink. Even though he sounded blasé, Rex saw a fleeting look of disappointment cross his commander's face. He looked down and took another drink himself.

"A so'wester on Hoth eh?"

"Yeah," Cody smiled and they then broke out into a fit of laughter.

#

Gem walked down the ramp of the craft and took in her surroundings. The landing area of her family home had been left to ruin as she watched the dirt and leaves stir for the first time in fifteen months. She breathed out slowly as Reed appeared directly behind her, his hand holding onto the hydrolic arm of the ramp.

"Welcome home Gem?" His voice was soft and comforting, but all Gem could think about was Rex and how she wished that he was there, helping her through the emotional roller coaster that she was about to climb aboard.

Nothing had been changed in the house. The furniture all as it was when she left, her father would have been back after three weeks, had he not died.

She walked through the rooms, running her hands over the familiar upholstery, the disarray of books exactly where her father had left them.

Reed brought in their belongings and headed to the kitchen. A service droid stood lifeless in the corner, it had obviously run out of power with no one to tend to it's needs. He moved over to the mechanical house keeper and plugged it's power pack into the adapter on the wall. He then turned a kitchen tap on. The pipes shuddered under the pressure.

He looked around at the chaos. Reed blew out a long breath and lifted off his helmet and started unclipping his torso armour.

There was a lot to be done, and being a clone, he knew better than most where to start.

#

Gem led Sionver to a bookcase in the library. The Bivallian looked at her curiously as she pulled on a book and the case moved aside revealing a hidden elevator.

She pressed a button which glowed blue and the doors slid effortlessly open.

"Ready?" she smiled to her new friend.

"Absolutely," Sionver was excited and together they stepped in the small lift and headed one kilometre below the surface to a hidden laboratory, know only to Gem and her father.

The doors opened and Gem stepped forward, hitting the switch and stood as the bank of overhead lights illuminated the enormous area.

Clunk, clunk, clunk.

Dr Boll stood amazed.

'This will do, yes this will do very nicely,' she thought to herself, lost in her scientific mind for the next three standard hours.

Gem headed back upstairs beginning to think about the evening meals. She knew better than most that Reed would need food soon. She found him, feet protruding from under a large metal cylinder behind the house.

"Hey, what you doing under there?"

"The hot water service has blown up," he scrambled out and stood, dusting the dirt and cobwebs from his bodysuit. "It's cold showers for us until I get into town tomorrow and aquire a new one."

"Hungry? We need some food, it gets dark here real quick."

Reed looked up at, "I'll get the supplies off the ship."

##

Gem, tired from the long day, headed to her room after making sure her companions were settled for the evening.

She then decided to text her Captain.

She wanted to hear his voice but thought better of interrupting him in case he was on a mission. A message would mean he could answer her in his own time.

'On Oriis. You?'

She smiled when the comm went green indicating a message back.

'000. Alone.'

'Can you talk?'

The comm then began gently vibrating. She smiled and hit the button as she lifted it to her mouth,

"Rex? It's so good to hear your voice."

"You too Gem."

"When did you get back?"

"Early this morning, I went to the apartment, but Vail said you had left for Oriis."

"We had a break in the Senate, I thought I'd make the most of the time off."

"You have Dr Boll with you, any reason?"

Gem stopped and thought for a second.

"Gem?" Rex prompted her to return the answer.

"We are on the Research and Development Committee together. I wanted some company and she agreed to come."

"I miss you, Gem." His voice became low.

"I miss you too."

Silence.

"I had to have dinner with Cody." She laughed at the comment and he smiled at the sound. She breathed long and loud down the comm piece.

"Gem, everything Okay?"

"It's just different, being here, you know, without Father."

"I'm glad you got Reed to look after you. Just wish it was me."

"Yes, he's trying to get the hot water service running. I thought it would be easier if I just came alone."

"When you coming back?" He sounded so alone, there was something different about his voice.

"I'm not sure Rex," it was true. The Senate had a four week break where all dignitaries had the option to head back to their home worlds. She wanted to look through her father's work, sign off anything left outstanding and also have a chance to discuss the more pressing project that she and Dr Boll were about to undertake. They had made a deal not to tell anyone about their new research; it would be their secret, until the time was right to release it to the people most affected by the genetic manipulation.

"Where are you?"

"In my room, it's late here. Twenty three hundred."

"What are you wearing?" his voice was low and cheeky.

Gem giggled. "Rex?" She looked down at her long sleeved pyjama's and a pair of her father's socks she had found. "The pale blue night dress you like so much. What are you wearing?"

"A towel. Just got back from the refresher."

There was silence until he added, "make me have to have another."

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