S.R.F Ch. 7
Rex needed to run. Those people at the factory had saved his skin, but he knew that more people would be on their way soon. He didn't hesitate to pick up the small blaster off a corpse as he finally reached what remained of the corner of the front wall, but not before he took one last look at the girl helping up the boy. She had the same armor as the rest of the troopers, but he knew this wasn't the case.
"Mandalorion. What does that even mean?" In the few hours that Rex had been outside of that place, he'd been recognizing things like this without having any actual information, other than vague feelings and urges. He couldn't explain how he knew when a vendor was too absorbed with a customer to notice him steal a quick meal, or when he seemed distracted and was actually keeping a hawk's eye out.
He was especially curious as to why he kept muttering sloppy when the Soldiers, why did he keep referring to them as soldiers?, would trip or fail to notice him take a quick corner and evade them.
"Gotta keep moving." The man clad in rags said to himself. Watching a drunk stumble out of some god-forsaken tavern with a decent poncho, Rex was quick to take advantage of the situation.
"Hey buddy! What are you doing out here man? The night is still young! Did that stupid barman throw you out?! You're not even that drunk! Bah, the rest of those feckers, (feckers? Rex thought to himself) can't hold down their drinks like us!" Rex said in one quick burst as to give the drunkard as little time to get a moment of peace to realize that he didn't know this strange man.
"I know right? But youuuu're here now, neh? The rest of em' can go rot in the Sarrlac Pit for all I care!"
The naïve man didn't take note of the fact that Rex's arm on his shoulder had subtly been taking them into an alley. What followed next, Rex also couldn't explain. His hand took a mind of his own once he felt it safe to take the man's clothes. With a quick swipe at the base of the back of the man's neck, he went down with a slight gasp and an oof when he landed unceremoniously on the dirt floor. When the poncho was finally pulled off the man's unconscious body, Rex was surprised to find that he indeed had some credits on him. Against his better judgment, he left the credits on the man, seeing as he only needed the poncho. Seeing as now saw himself fit to mingle among the riff raff of the street without any chance of someone recognizing him if he doesn't call any unnecessary attention to himself.
Realizing that for the first time since he escaped, he didn't have anyone on his back. No soldiers were around, and Rex wasn't hungry and he wouldn't have to risk stealing. Seeing as he realized he now had nothing to do but dwell on his situation, something he considered a godsend. While no one could say that Rex can't think on the fly, he knows that his best bet was to sit down and think a bit farther ahead on what he was going to do. He figured that he might as well as enter the establishment his now incapacitated friend had left.
When Rex entered the dive bar, he got the feeling that he wouldn't be welcome there. Like he wasn't among his friends. Which was odd, seeing as couldn't remember a time when he did feel like he fit in. Pushing the problem to the back of his mind, he walked on up to the nearest stool on the counter and plopped his head down into his hands, feeling he needed a minute of bliss before getting serious again.
His mini-vacation was broken as he heard a thump and a whoosh of air tickled his scalp, Rex sporting a buzz cut since as long as he could remember, he looked up to see a humanoid bartender with a scar running across the bridge of her nose and dark red eyes.
"I can't pay for that." Rex said, a bit surprised to hear the defeat in his voice as he gazed woefully at the unknown substance that he felt for some strange reason was his friend.
"You're… weird. Most of the scum here wouldn't admit to something like that. They'd probably just shoot down the thing without thinking of what I'd do to them when the time to pay up came." The unnamed bartender said with a frown on her face.
"I'm not most scum." Rex said with an involuntary wink and a slight smile. He put his gaze back down to the floor with a slight blush when he saw the significantly more noticeable blush on the bar tender. Where did that come from? Rex thought with himself in what could only be explained as a smirking voice in his own head.
"Well, in that case, bud, go ahead and open up a tab with me. I'm sure a, man of your stature, would keep your word."
"Why I certainly would, especially with such charming company, I'm afraid I won't be here long if everything goes according to plan."
"Ohhhhh, an honest man. That's so rare it's practically a turn on. The drink's on the house, as long as you promise to stick around long enough for me to get to know you Mr?"
"Rex. And your's? Rex said, taking a sip of the drink now that he wouldn't be in any debt with it's consumption.
"Oh, it's of no importance to you. I doubt you'll even remember walking in here." She said with a malicious grin.
"Whhhhh…." Then Rex slipped into oblivion.