Seventy Nine

Rex leaned forward and shook the pilots hand.

"Thanks for the ride lieutenant."

"A pleasure as always captain, welcome home."

One.

"Sir, I have a message from HQ," Rex had just stepped out of the larty. He smiled, it started earlier this time. He diligently studied the data pad in front of him.

"Let General Skywalker know I will be an hour. I first need to check on the men in the Infirmary and grab a shower."

Seven.

It was an annoying habit that he continued to this day. Counting the steps into the GAR barracks. Mental arithmetic.

"Captain, we need your approval on the new plex's being delivered from ordinance. The sarge won't budge on them unless you've given it the green light."

Rex sighed and looked at the requisition. Torrent had been waiting for the upgraded weaponry since before Umbara. He electronically signed off the new order of heavy guns. The doors of the GAR barracks swished open silently.

Thirty two.

"Sir, we have CT-43-5642 in bacta for the next two days. He required a new liver."

Rex didn't talk, they walked in silence.

Sixty seven, sixty eight.

Kix knew his captain was registering the information and waited for a response.

"I gather there were no shortages of a donor," Rex replied.

Seventy three.

"No sir. Unfortunately not."

Rex stopped and turned to Kix. "You look tired," and he did.

"Yes sir. I'm off duty in an hour."

He studied the medic, "I don't want to see you until next shift," he said as he studied his chrono and made a mental note of the time, "dismissed."

"Yes, sir."

"Captain."

"Speak." Ninety one.

"Sir," it was the annoying little medical intern that had been after him for the past two lunar months.

Rex smiled as he charged forward, nodding at men as they saluted him. The non-clone medico had to jog to keep up with his pace.

One hundred and thirteen.

"CT-7567. You are well overdue for your rudimentary physiological and psychological evaluation. The Kaminoan's are quite keen to ascertain the wear and tear on your physical being."

"I will be down for the evaluation after I have something to eat," he replied turning to the young officer wearing grey. Quickly depressing the combination to his door he stepped inside.

"But sir, you need to fast for six ho- ,"

Swish.

The door closed effortlessly behind him and Rex shut out the incessant noise for a moment.

One hundred and forty. It took him three steps more this time.

"Good to see you again sir," Finn said as he stood at attention.

"At ease corporal," Rex said as he removed his helmet, "what have we got?"

"HQ need you to look through some data from the outer rim. The analyst's would be keen to get your feedback regarding some intel they received during a routine run to the Degobah system. Also, ordinance are holding onto that new order of PLX's,"

"I've dealt with that already."

"Right you are sir. Torrent also need routine immunisations and you are well aware of your evaluation for - "

"Yes, yes," he said slightly irritated and began unclipping the pauldron and kama. Rex was tired and Finn could see that he needed to be alone. "I'll have some caf and food brought up immediately Sir."

"Thank you, that would be appreciated."

Rex stood for a moment, before moving forward and locking his door. The outside light illuminating red meaning he was not to be interrupted. He then continued to strip down to his body suit, mentally readying himself for what he had been waiting to look at.

Letting out a long breath, he sat back in his chair and lowered his helmet back over his head.

With a flick of his eyes he managed to rewind the data back to the previous mission.

The one on Scillal.

He had thought continually about how he was injured with his commanders light sabre. The answers he knew would be recorded in his buckets memory.

"Trust me Rex," was all she said.

He knew that look, the one that meant to not question her motives.

He trusted Ahsoka with his life; it was his heart he didn't trust.

The questions would all be answered in a matter of minutes.

Watching the blue recorded images flickering past him he took in a breath at the sight of the two dueling Jedi.

Yellow? Who has a yellow light sabre?

Then his voice ordering the man to 'stand down and state his unit.'

Everything seemed to move quickly, Ahsoka racing to get to his side, yelling at him to lower his weapons.

Then the man turned towards Rex, raising his light sabre and bringing it down hard and fast against his thigh. He heard his recorded yell of pain before looking at the gaping wound on his leg.

His helmet swung around fast and he raised his weapons, before he caught a glimpse of the mans face.

His face.

The recording then moved to a different angle. Rex knew this would have been when he was rendered unconscious.

He jolted back in his chair and pulled the bucket off double time. Resting his elbows on his knees he dropped his head and took deep breaths.

Rex rubbed his eyes and after steeling himself, placed the bucket down once more.

The recorder kept rolling even after he passed out.

He saw it all, enthralled by the vision of the two facing off and listening to the man talking, cajoling Ahsoka with words of deceit and mutiny.

He knew the man wasn't a clone, he was too old. The only explanation for that face and voice was Fett.

But he was dead!

Rex quickly pulled his red fatigues on and opened the door of his private quarters.

"Captain. Would now be a good ti - "

"Listen lieutenant," his voice held a certain malice, sending the younger man up against the wall, "how about we go play a game of fek off? You go first." He was intimidating, looming over the young medico, the red uniform a stark contrast against the lighter grey.

"Sir, I, I," he stammered as Rex briskly pushed past him and headed out of the barracks, and over to the Jedi Temple.

One, two...

.

"Commander Tano is in the library."

Ahsoka had spent most of her incarceration with the Jedi archivist Jocasta Nu. She had worked through all the periodicals and had managed to come up with the man she had met on Scillal. She knew immediately that he was the one.

"Why was he kept such a secret?"

"He wasn't kept a secret Ahsoka. Many Jedi leave the Order. We just record all the names and dates, then add it to the archive for prosperity. Stoyan Fett was like many before him."

"You knew this man?"

"Yes. He was a Padawan under Grand Master Yoda. He grew up here, on Coruscant and was a talented Jedi on all accounts. As I recall, he left mysteriously one night, never to be heard of again. Why the interest all of a sudden?" Jocasta looked intently at the Togrutan and Ahsoka moved uncomfortably.

"No reason, just wondering. Did you know another Jedi called Eremina Torr?"

Jocasta stared. "Yes. Another Jedi that left the Order under 'difficult' circumstances."

"Difficult?"

"Heart breaking. The Jedi Order is not for everyone. I think you should seek your Master Jedi for more information about the two you ask of," she stood from the desk and closed the large volume.

Ahsoka watched as he put it back on the shelf, when she turned back, the captain was sitting in front of her.

"Rex, you startled me."

"Commander," his voice was low, and she knew exactly why he was there.

They talked for an hour. Their voices never raised above a whisper as he sat and listened to the research she had undertaken while he was on Niobus.

"Please Rex, I gave my word that I would let him be. I'm sorry you were hurt. You know I'd do anything to change that if I could." She lowered her head and Rex reached across the table and took her delicate hand in his.

"I give you my word Ahsoka. I will say nothing." She knew he meant it.

Rex continued to hold her hand a moment longer before letting it gently slide out of his clasp. There was something about her right then that made him want to jump across the table and hold her.

Her vulnerability maybe?

Her faith in someone she didn't know but who she had vowed to protect. Ahsoka was loyal, and he respected that.

They both stood from the desk and she hesitated before she added.

"Rex. You know you can talk to me about anything, don't you?"

Their eyes met and he knew now was the perfect time to tell her about the child Gem was carrying. His child.

"The library will close in ten minutes Padawan Tano," that moment passing as Jocasta warily watched the two surrounded by a thousand years of ancient, Jedi history.

"Thank you Master Nu, we were just leaving."

.