Chapter Nineteen: Captain Down

Kenobi's Star Destroyer had landed on the surface of Saleucami, the soldiers immediately moving to unload the AT-TE walkers and other supplies. Rex hadn't spoken to me other than a quick greeting, considering he was helping prepare the hunt for Grievous.

I walked behind him and Kenobi as the jedi mused, the dirt soft and welcome below my boots. I hadn't been on a planet with grass in some time, considering I'd been doing jobs on a lot of space stations, Coruscant, and Tatooine, none of which had much vegetation, if at all. The air was clear...lively. The planet was thriving with life and the force. It wasn't like Tatooine, where stepping outside for too long without proper protection or supplies would literally kill you. And that wasn't even getting started with the rough creatures that would kill you just to say they did.

"Instead of scattering our troops, looking for all the escape pods," Kenobi thought aloud as he walked. "We shall head towards the wreckage of the landing transport first."

Rex nodded as we breached a hill, looking towards where smoke rippled off the horizon. The captain turned tail to oversee the cruiser's launch sequence while I leapt aboard an AT-TE with Obi-wan.

"It shouldn't take too long," the jedi voiced as the group marched forward, sending little creatures rushing away with chirps.

I hummed, leaning against the turret, giving a glance at the clone there. "At this speed, I don't really believe you?"

"Why?" Kenobi asked with a grin. "Have somewhere to be?"

I laughed. "Yes, actually. Tatooine, where my payment is waiting."

"You bounty hunters and your payments," he grumbled, looking through his electrobinoculars.

"Hey," I chided gently. "Unlike you, I don't get everything provided for me by the Republic."

The jedi chuckled gently, but sobered as he regarded me. "It could be, if you wanted to."

I glanced sideways at him, reaching out with the force to find sincerity. A laugh erupted from my mouth, turning heads down on the ground. "What?" I said finally, once I sobered. "So you can keep an eye on me?" His eyebrow lifted, so I continued. "Don't think I forgot our last conversation, Kenobi."

He sighed through his nose, looking forward through his electrobinoculars again. "I know what the council thinks of you," he spoke, still scanning the horizon. "But most of them have never met you. Fought with you." Finally, he dropped the binoculars to his side and turned to where I lounged against the turret. "None of them know you."

"And you do?" I asked, lifting my eyebrows. "I think we've had this discussion before."

"And you insisted I didn't," he responded swiftly. "But you're wrong." That shut me up. He had a fierceness in his voice. A determination I didn't expect. "The council is concerned about your heritage. I am not. I've seen the things you've done. Selfless acts that could have killed you, but saved others."

I huffed a laugh at his sincere face. "You don't think I'll turn on you? I have an inclination towards the dark side, after all," I scowled at him. The clones around us perked up, listening against their better judgement.

"Perhaps your people did...a long time ago," Obi-wan conceded. "But one's people does not define them. Nor does your past." He regarded me, eyes tracing over where my slave brand lay hidden. "I heard what you said to Anakin on the ship," he said suddenly, making my eyes snap up to his. "About the clones being something like a family to you."

The soldiers were listening now.

"They're what's left of Jango. What's left of the memories I have of when I had a family," was all I said. I wasn't about to confirm or deny anything. "I don't care about this war, Obi-wan. You know that."

"Maybe you don't. But you care about people. And the Separatist army is hurting people across the galaxy."

I stared forward, past Obi-wan. Was he right? Was this what I was supposed to do? The force rippled around me as I thought. Jobs weren't really needed anymore, since the club ran itself now. Still, what would Jango say?

"Stop thinking so much, ad'ika," Jango chastised as he knocked me down yet again. I panted hard on the ground before pushing myself back to my feet. "Feel," he insisted as I lifted my fists before my face. "Listen to your instincts."

I ducked below his next attack, rolling sideways.

"Better," he admitted, a bit of pride shining through, but his voice still rough and commanding. "Now be faster!"

I did my best to parry his attacks, my feet stepping back in the footwork he'd taught me. He rounded on me, his foot flying out, catching me hard in the ribs. I grunted, but locked my arm over his calf and twisted my body, throwing him into a roll.

My tired form barely got me back to my feet as he turned to face me again, grinning slightly. "Good. Parry left," he said, punching out as I obeyed. "Right." I did it again. "Get down." I ducked at his words, but caught a boot to the chest instead, being sent backwards.

I groaned, growling at him. "You said to duck."

"My mouth said to duck," he scowled at me. "My body told you to step backwards."

"But-"

He held up his hand, stopping me as he stepped forward. He offered me a hand up, pulling me back to my feet as he rested his palms on my shoulders. "Ad'ika," he said, his voice gentler now. "Always watch the body, not the mouth. And I won't always be around to guide you."

"But you're always telling me what's the right thing to do."

"What's right according to me," he reminded. "I can be wrong, Kida. When you're older...as you grow...you'll learn what's right and wrong for yourself." He took my wrist gently, turning it over to expose my brand. "Everyone sees it differently, do you understand?"

I did. I nodded slowly.

"Besides," he chuckled, leading me from the room and concluding training for the day. "One day, you may even prove me wrong. I'm not a stupid man. I know I can be wrong." He touched my nose gently as his eyes softened. "No one controls you anymore. No one can tell you what to do with your life. Your fate is yours to determine, do you understand?"

"Yes, Jango."

"Good." He smiled at me, leading us towards his apartment. "Hungry?"

I breathed slowly. Jango was right. In the end...he was wrong about what side he chose. Maybe it meant something to him...even if it meant filling his own pockets. Still, a part of me wondered if Jango was in a similar situation Bane had been in all those months ago.

"I think," Windu's words chimed in my memories. "Your fear of whoever you're working for, outweighs your fear of us."

Was Jango threatened? Or worse...was Boba threatened? Dooku wasn't a man you crossed. Maybe he was trapped. In the end, was Dooku the reason Jango died?

I shook that thought away. He wouldn't influence my decision now. It was up to me. Up to what I believed in. I looked at Obi-wan thoughtfully.

"You're serious, aren't you?"

"Of course I am," he responded steadily. "You're an apt warrior with a good head on your shoulders, even if you can be a bit rash. You're intelligent and passionate for preserving the lives of the innocent. And," he added, glancing around at the clones who were pretending they weren't listening. "The men respect you. That's not something easily gained. Especially by someone who's barely fought with them in open battle." Obi-wan looked through his electrobinoculars again as he finished.

I welcomed the compliments, but still hesitated. Thankfully, I was saved by Rex's arrival on a speeder.

"General Kenobi!" Rex appeared under the shadows of the walkers. "Sir, the cruiser's returned to orbit. Any sign of Grievous?"

Obi-wan smiled grimly. "I believe we've found Grievous' ship." Rex nodded below us and I could feel his gaze on me as I leaned against the turret in thought. He wasn't a stupid man. He could see all the other clones desperately trying to appear like they hadn't just been staring up at us.

As we neared the wreckage and clones began searching the area, I leapt from the top of the AT-TE, glancing back up at Kenobi as he jumped down after me. We walked together to find Cody, my mind wandering away from the task.

"I'll think about it," I said finally as Kenobi spied Cody up on the wrecked ship. The jedi turned to me and nodded. "I'll let you know, I just need to...think."

"Take whatever time you need," he said, looking over his shoulder as he walked towards Cody. "Just know that this war may not give you as much as you like."

I breathed slowly, closing my eyes briefly before clambering my own way up the ship, conducting my own distracted search. I hoped I didn't actually find Grievous-or any droids, for that matter-because I'd be shot before I even recognized what I was looking at. Dammit, Kenobi...distracting me before a mission.

"Thermal housing intakes are still warm," I heard Cody call from above. "This couldn't have happened too long ago."

I looked up to see Obi-wan standing above me, Rex and Jesse approaching from behind, their buckets off. I breathed deeply, starting my climb up towards them.

"The crew compartment's almost entirely destroyed," Rex reported as he stopped before Obi-wan.

The jedi thought for a moment as I made it up to their level, standing behind the clones. Jesse saw me, casting me a grin. Cody moved over to join me, nodding at me in greeting. "We'll split into teams," the general announced. "Rex, take Jesse, Hardcase, and Kix and search those wetlands."

"Yes sir," the clones of the 501st responded, turning on their heels.

"Cody," Obi-wan continued. "You, Crys, and I will pick it up from here."

"And me?" I asked, stepping forward. I noticed a hesitation in Jesse and Rex's steps, both of them slowing to listen. Obi-wan raised his eyebrow at me. "That's not my answer," I explained. "But I promised to help on this mission, no matter what I decide after. So what do you want me to do?"

The jedi hummed, stroking his chin. "Go with Rex and his team. You've worked with them before, have you not?"

"I have. Broke one of their noses once, too."

He frowned at me. "Well, best not to do that again. You're on the same side this time."

"For now," I teased, wiggling my eyebrows at him as I turned to follow Rex and Jesse.

"Rex," Kenobi called after us. "If you get a visual on Grievous, contact us before you engage."

We all nodded, heading off the back of the ship.

Rex merely nodded at me as I approached, donning his helmet. Jesse, though, threw his arm around my shoulder and led me off.

"Nice to see you again, Fett," he said, fully knowing I didn't use that name. Instead of correcting him, I rolled my eyes.

"I see your nose healed well," I teased back. "You can barely tell that I broke it."

"That's because you didn't hit it hard enough."

"I'm free to try it again," I said lowly, my voice dark, but still teasing.

"Kix, Hardcase," Rex called as we reached the ground. "You're with us."

"Is that Kida Fett?" Hardcase called as he joined us. He wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Still haven't seen those tattoos, Kida," he teased.

Kix shoved him gently, followed by a harder shove from Jesse. "Knock it off," they both growled. I smiled, following them to a group of speeders, all painted in the 501st colors.

"There's one for you, Kida," Kix gestured towards the one beside Rex's. "Glad you could join us."

I nodded to him as I leapt aboard the speeder, tapping my thighs to make sure the GAR regulation pistols hadn't slipped from the holsters they weren't designed for. With a twist of my hand, the speeder's engine whirred to life, sending me speeding after the group. As I left, I felt the pride from Cody and Obi-wan directed towards Rex. I couldn't help but smile gently, lowering my goggles onto my face to block the dust. Rex was a renowned leader… it was no wonder I felt so drawn to him.

I shook myself. Focus, dammit. I was going to get myself kriffing killed if I didn't get my thoughts together.

As we sped across the rolling hills of Saleucami's terrain, I let myself breathe the air again. It was crisp, filled with life and vegetation. And apparently a farm, considering something smelled like shit, and it wasn't the chemical smell of the engine.

Our group had fanned out, covering a wide plane of searching, but nothing had come up yet. Something tingled in the back of my mind. Something bad. I lifted my head, searching, but my goggle interface was nothing without my wrist gauntlet...which was confiscated by the Separatists...and blown up on their ship. Something was wrong as we all moved back into a close formation, my gaze settling on Rex's back.

"Something wrong?" Jesse called from beside me. I turned to look at him and opened my mouth to explain, when we heard a shot go off.

Rex flew from his speeder, backwards towards mine. Jesse dodged to the side, but I was right behind Rex.

"Kriff!" I cursed, whipping my speeder sideways and hitting the ground as it slid on its side, barely missing Rex's flying body. I pulled myself up from the ground, covered in dirt, and saw Rex laying still a few meters behind me. "Oh no," I breathed, forcing myself to run towards him, ignoring the pain in my body from hitting the ground.

A speeder flew past me, stopping beside Rex's body before I could get there. I stopped at his side, thankfully still feeling his signature.

"He's alive," I breathed, watching Kix remove Rex's helmet slowly. The blast had hit him square in the chest, his shoulder pauldron smoking from the heat.

"Jesse," Kix said into his comms. "You better get back here."

They returned after a minute, having disposed of the commando droids that had shot their captain. "How bad?" Jesse asked as he ran over.

"Pretty bad," Kix sighed. "I need to remove his armor to see the full extent of the damage."

"Those snipers may have called for backup," Hardcase thought aloud, looking around. "Unless we wanna start getting picked off one by one, we should find better cover first."

My eyes lifted, seeing a few Eopie grazing near trees. "Look," I said, making the clones turn.

"Wait a minute," Jesse said, seeing more Eopie arriving. "Those critters are domesticated."

"Sir?" Kix muttered, confused.

"It's a farm," I voiced. "Can't you smell it." They all gestured to their helmets. Right. Jeez… I needed to focus. Though, Rex getting shot right in front of me had been surprisingly rattling. I'd seen him almost die before, on Naboo. Of course, I was also dying. Everyone was...it was a bit of a trend that day.

"Where there's a farm," Jesse said smugly. "There's usually a farmer."

"How perceptive," I tried to tease, standing quickly, my ribs complaining.

"Are you alright?" Kix asked immediately, trained to see the little signs.

I waved him off. "Hit the ground hard. I'll be fine." I looked around at the group, raising my eyebrows. "So? What are we waiting for?"

"Let's find his homestead," Jesse said, standing beside me.

Hardcase and Kix bent to lift Rex from the ground, Jesse pulling a stretcher from the side of one of the speeders and laying it out for Rex to rest on. I scooped up his helmet, attaching it to the back of my own speeder before firing up my engine.

We moved slower now, my heart thumping hard in my chest. I merely followed the soldiers, my mind focused on Rex. He was there, but the injury was bad. He'd survive, though.

At least, I'd make the bastard survive, if he didn't feel like doing it.

It didn't take long to find fences and a dirt path, crop fields on both sides. We slowed our speeders, my eyes cutting to Rex's unconscious form a final time before coming to a stop outside a house made of clay and wood.

Just as we stopped, the front door flew open, a female Twi'lek aiming a hunting rifle at us. Kix raised his hands in the air immediately, his heart jumping so much I could feel it myself.

"We want no trouble here," she said, turning her gaze and aim to Jesse as he scooted his speeder forward, putting himself between the woman and his captain.

"Easy with that weapon, ma'am," he said calmly, removing his helmet. "We're here as friends."

"State your business," the Twi'lek replied steadily, unperturbed by the warriors around her. The force rippled around her at seeing Jesse's face, but none showed on her face.

"Our captain's been hurt," Kix piped up form his scooter. "We need-"

"I'm no doctor," she cut him off, making me smirk slightly. Sure, we needed to help Rex, but I admired her keeping face in front of soldiers. I liked her fire. "So just-"

"We have a medic, ma'am," Jesse said gently. "We just need a place to tend to him overnight."

My eyebrows lifted as more force signatures approached. "Mommy," a little voice chimed out as two children appeared beside her legs in the doorway. "Who's-"

"Get back inside, both of you," the woman scolded.

Both the children-the eldest being a female, the youngest a male-both let out groans of distaste. They muttered their own protests, but obeyed as their mother rolled her eyes, finally lowering her weapon.

"Look, there are some benches out back in the barn. It's the best I can do."

"That'll be fine ma'am," Jesse replied with a gentle smile. "Thank you." The Twi'lek woman regarded us from her doorstep as we moved the speeders forward, Kix and Jesse lifting Rex as Hardcase and I opened the barn doors and cleared a bench.

I sat in worried silence as Kix stripped the captain of his armor, revealing a toned chest with a dark burn on his sternum. Kix cleaned the wound, my eyes tracing over the muscles all the clones shared from their years of intense training. He had some scars here and there, but nothing that seemed to compare to the one he would get from this...if he lived long enough for it to scar.

My gaze flicked up to his face as I felt him stir in the force, Kix gently attaching a bacta-patch over the terrible burn.

"What…" Rex mumbled out as his eyes opened-unfocused and unseeing. "What happened?"

"Commando droids took a pot shot," Hardcase reported. "That would've gone straight through your heart, had it been two inches to the left."

I breathed deeply from where I sat, closing my eyes. Why did that possible inevitability scare me so much?

Fear rippled over Rex in the force. "I can't move my arm," he worried.

"You have some nerve damage," Kix responded gently, shifting in shock as Rex forced himself to turn over.

"Understood," Rex said formally, turning on his side, much to Kix's chagrin. "Now, patch me up and let's get on with it."

"Sir, you're in no condition," Kix argued to Rex's back, who was now facing me. He didn't seem to see me where I sat silently in the corner, but I could feel his fear. His frustration. His pride was taking a hit. "It will heal, but it'll take time."

Rex rippled with anger as he turned to look at his medic, his stare intense. "We're getting under way, Kix," he said lowly. "That's an order."

Jesse grinned slightly as he regarded his captain, but shook his head nonetheless as Kix responded. "Sir, as team medic, when it comes to the health of the men, including you…" the soldier paused for a second before doing his best to puff out his chest. "I outrank everyone."

I was sure that even the other men could feel Rex's frustration now, even without force sensitivity.

"So, I respectfully," Kix continued, less confident under Rex's glare. "Order you, sir, to get some-"

Rex shrugged off Kix's hand grumpily, the sound of someone clearing their throat turning our heads.

"Excuse me," the Twi'lek woman said from the doorway to the barn. She was holding a plate of food. "If there's not enough-" she started, but Jesse cut her off.

"That's plenty," he said as he approached. "Thank you...uh…"

"Suu," she completed for him gently, handing him the plate. As she did, a hoverball drifted past her and into the room, dipping below the bench Rex laid on. The little girl came running in after it, a smile on her face. "I told you to stay in the house," Suu scolded, seeming exhausted by her children.

"I couldn't help it, mom. It got away," the girl argued, ducking below the table to look for the ball. I leaned forward from my corner as it drifted toward me, nudging it back to her. She gave me a wide grin before standing from under the table, looking up at Rex, who regarded her with a scowl.

I felt recognition from her and saw it in her face, my eyebrows rising in curiosity. "You look like my daddy," she said wistfully, the clones seeming taken back. If anything, Rex almost looked scared, making me chuckle.

"Shaeeah," Suu chastised gently. "Don't bother the soldier. Now get inside with your brother."

Shaeeah rolled her eyes. "Yes mom."

Suu shook her head and offered the plate to Jesse again. "My husband is away, delivering our first harvest. Do you require anything else?"

Jesse seemed flustered. "No...thank you, Suu." The Twi'lek hummed gently before turning and leaving the barn. Jesse put the plate down on a bench near Rex while Hardcase fished out Rex's pistol from his piled armor at my feet. Hardcase gave me a small, grim smile before putting the pistol beside Rex's arm on the bench.

"Resume the search without me," Rex commanded, barely masking his frustration. "Jesse, you're in command. I'll be fine." The captain laid himself back down, staring at the ceiling and letting out a long breath.

The soldiers nodded, Kix leaving some pain killers in a pack for Rex before exiting the barn. I gave the injured clone a glance, but he refused to meet my eye. I sighed before following the other men out.

"We're just going to leave him here?" I asked as they approached their speeders.

"We have our orders, Kida," Jesse said gently, his eyes soft as he regarded me.

I frowned. "But he can't even use his one arm. If he's discovered-"

"Grievous is our mission," Kix interrupted, his eyes downcast. "Rex is a strong man. He's going to be fine."

"Yeah," I breathed, taking a few steps towards my own speeder. "I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid."

The clones all looked at each other for a moment, their minds working. "Maybe…" Hardcase started. "Someone should stay with the captain."

"We have orders," Kix reminded gently, sitting atop his speeder. It was quiet for a second as I eyed my speeder.

"I don't," I said suddenly. Jesse lifted his eyebrow before it registered, a small smile gracing his lips.

"You're right," he grinned. "Mind staying behind to keep him under wraps?"

"And avoid getting shot at?" I teased gently. "That's a hefty request." The clones chuckled at me, sitting on their speeders. In reality, I was relieved. I wasn't afraid to go into a firefight...I was afraid to leave Rex alone. What if something happened? Suu had openly admitted she wasn't a doctor. At least I'd been stitching up my own wounds for years.

"He's not to do anything strenuous," Kix said, donning his helmet. "Even if he says he can. Make sure he rests."

"Yes sir," I responded cheekily, leaning against my own speeder and giving them a lop-sided salute.

Jesse rolled his eyes before putting on his helmet and starting the speeder. "We'll contact you tomorrow for a rendezvous point!"

I gave him a thumbs up as they sped away, leaving me in the pale light of the two moons. After a long breath, I moved my own speeder into hiding, casting my gaze around the farm. It was rather large, filled with plants I couldn't even recognize. Smoke drifted from the chimney of Suu's home, a warm, savory smell following it. My stomach growled, surprising me.

I supposed I hadn't eaten in a while. I'd nibbled at a few rations on my ship before being stuck on Grievous' ship...but that was at least a rotation ago.

I slipped back inside the barn, seeing Rex trying to catch some sleep. Since he wasn't eating, I took advantage of the fruits Suu had brought, picking up a round red one and taking it back to my corner to munch on.

Time passed slowly, my worried thoughts keeping me from any rest. I was constantly monitoring Rex through the force, while also hyper aware of the Eopie in the barn with us. One snorted at me and my fruit, making me chuckle. I scooped up another peace, offering it to the creature. It took it gratefully, Rex cursing from the other side of the barn as a few grew curious and started snuffling around him. I let out a light laugh, moving to his side to help push it away from his face gently.

"What are you still doing here?" he asked, his tone surprisingly cold.

"Apparently keeping Eopie from getting slobber all over your face," I said back immediately before scowling. "A thank you, would be nice."

"You were ordered to return to the search."

I lifted my eyebrow as I turned away, my gaze slowly scanning the tools on the walls. "Was I? I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was part of the GAR." Frustration rippled off of the clone as he sat in silence, watching me move in the darkness. I looked out at him from behind the stacks of wood and grain, my voice growing quiet. "You're upset with me." He didn't respond, turning his head away. "I'm surprised," I continued, still walking through the barn. "I was under the impression we had left on good terms last time…" I thought for a moment.

"Attachments are dangerous in a war...but I'd be lying if I claimed I didn't have them anyways."

The brush of his lips over the skin of my cheek. The fear he'd felt...but he did it anyways.

"Even better than good terms," I added, thankful for the shadows to obscure my blush.

Still, Rex didn't speak, but I felt his emotions swirling in the darkness. Finally, his mouth opened, his eyes staring out the top of the barn to watch the stars. "What I said...it was wrong."

My heart clenched, but I pretended I felt nothing. "Oh?"

"You have to understand," he struggled to form the sentence. "A clone in this war can't have any attachments...I could never-" He sighed, wincing as he shifted uncomfortably. "What I did was wrong. And it never should have happened. It didn't mean anything."

That one hurt. I turned my back, leaning slightly on one of the wooden posts as emotion welled within me. I fought it off, knowing this wasn't the time. Damn this man. This bastard. He toyed with me. I never let myself get attached and now him...and he does this. I sucked in a deep breath as I felt his gaze on the back of my head.

"Kida?" he prodded gently, his voice hesitant. "You have to understand. I could never… be with you. I could never...love...you."

Against my better judgement, I pressed my sadness into anger, tucking it away to be used on some punching dummy later. Or maybe a droid. I composed myself and turned to face him in the darkness.

A few steps took me into the moonlight, revealing my placid face with a cocked eyebrow. "Love? Is that what you thought this was?" I lied through my teeth, letting my anger out to mock him in a chuckle. "I didn't expect anything from you, Captain," I bit.

He seemed hurt, but his eyes flicked over me briefly before returning to the skies. "Well...good. Because I couldn't offer anything."

I rolled my eyes and turned away. "Clearly," I growled under my breath. "Mando'ade," I said in exasperation. They were all the same. Emotionally constipated and bound by some unseen code of honor that shifted to only ever make them miserable.

He didn't speak again, but I felt his gaze on me as I drifted through the barn, my eyes looking anywhere but at him. "We can still...be friends. I enjoy your company." My heart wrenched in my chest. I didn't know why. I'd never agreed to...feeling. I'd never consented to getting attached to him. "I mean," he tried. "I'm just a clone, Kida. There's hundreds of men just like me. Thousands."

I sighed lowly, my anger fizzling into sadness again. "No, Rex," I breathed. "There's not." I looked over at his sad expression. "Don't worry," I forced a smile. "This doesn't mean I won't protect you. Jesse asked me to. And I promised to help on this mission. And then I'll be out of what little hair you have."

He smiled gently at my attempt at a joke, but I felt the pain through the force at my mentioning of leaving. "You're...going to leave." It wasn't a question.

"Get some rest, Rex. You'll feel better in the morning."