Chapter Twenty: The Deserter

"I have a question."

The Madalorian sighed from the table he was cleaning his armor on. "As usual," he muttered, but cast me a light look. He was tired from his last mission, having come in late and covered in mud. "If it's about the mission-" he started, but I cut him off.

"I know better than to ask when you come in looking like that," I teased gently, smiling from my place at the window. As it always was, the wind and rain raged outside, tossing the sea into a chopping mess. It was beautiful. "My question is actually about Boba."

Jango slowed in his work, his eyebrow lifting. "Is he alright?"

"He's fine," I dismissed, working up the courage to ask my question. "But...why a clone?" He didn't seem to understand. "Why did you need to have a clone to have a child? Why not...have one normally?"

"You mean impregnate a woman."

"Well… yeah. Or whatever kind of female you like," I said, trying to deflect any possible anger. "Or…" I hesitated. "Do you not like women?" Jango turned to me abruptly and gave me a look. "There's nothing wrong with it," I argued, making him scowl.

"I know there's nothing wrong with it."

"Then, what's the issue?"

He chuckled through a sigh. "I like women, ad'ika."

"Okay, but that still begs the question. Why a clone? Or if you still had Boba, why doesn't he have a mother?"

Jango looked sad. "My life isn't one that facilitates good relationships. It's not a place for a pregnant wife."

"You brought a son into it," I reminded.

"A son who's safe on Kamino and will be a strong warrior like me." I lifted my eyebrow but shook my head. "What?" he pushed.

"I just don't get why you can't even have a girlfriend."

To my surprise, Jango laughed. It was full, but quiet so as not to wake Boba in the next room. "I don't meet a lot of suitors in my work, Kida."

"There are plenty of female bounty hunters."

He hummed in acknowledgement. "Yes, and most would shoot me the moment they found a bounty for my head." I scowled at him. "I can't trust people, ad'ika. You never know who is an assassin."

"I could be an assassin," I tried.

"You're not an assassin," he responded immediately, his tone low as he went back to cleaning his armor.

"How do you know?" I leapt from my seat by the window, puffing my chest as he playfully struck my pride.

He glanced up at me and looked back at his work. "Because when I picked you up, you had barely any meat on your bones."

"That wasn't my fault," I scowled.

"Didn't say it was."

I huffed. "I could have been posing to get you to trust me."

"You couldn't have. You're a shit liar."

"Am not," I argued against his quick responses. "I made it through years of slavery without my captors ever knowing how much I wanted them to die."

He looked at me with some amusement, but his eyes were sad at my casual mention of my enslavement. "Trust me when I say they knew full well that you wanted them to die."

"Whatever." I attempted to deflect the conversation. "So if you can know that I'm not an assassin, can't you tell when a pretty woman isn't?"

Jango sighed as he stood from his seat to approach me, his big hand gently touching my hair. "I don't need a wife or a girlfriend," he insisted, looking down at me. "I have Boba and I have you. That's family enough for me." I smiled at him, still not used to being considered a legitimate part of his family. "Do you understand?" I nodded, making him smile and kiss the top of my head gently before pushing my shoulder towards my room. "Now, it's late. Goodnight, ad'ika."

I glanced back at him with a smile as the door to my room hissed open. "Goodnight, buir."

I was pulled from my restless thoughts by the approaching of a presence. It hadn't been long since Rex had fallen back asleep, the smell of Suu's cooking still wafting through the barn. I stood slowly as I felt someone approach. It was familiar, somehow, but strange at the same time. I glanced at the sleeping clone with a mix of worry, sadness, and an urge to slap him awake.

Instead, I slipped sideways into the darkness to await the approaching figure. The barn doors opened slowly, casting pale moonlight on Rex's prone form. I felt him stir awake as a hand reached in, plucking a farm tool from the wall and brandishing it before him. His movements were nearly silent as he made his way towards Rex.

I was even more so as I slipped through the darkness after him. Thankfully, the Eopie were used to me in the barn by now and didn't alert the intruder to my presence. Suddenly, Rex sprang up, pistol in hand, only for the figure to deftly twist the farm tool and disarm the captain.

"Who are you?" a deep voice asked, the sharp end of the tool in Rex's face. He stopped, seeming shocked. "What are you doing here?"

"Drop it," I said from his side, my pistol aimed at his temple. His eyes flicked over to me as he turned, his face coming into view in the moonlight. I nearly dropped my own weapon as he slowly lowered his, but I kept my composure.

"You're a clone," Rex stated the obvious.

"So I see the war has finally made its way out here," the clone observed, ignoring Rex's statement. "And I guess I can expect a visit from some droids soon." Rex was sitting up now, his face dark and his force signature even darker. The clone looked sideways at me, giving me a gentle smile. "You can put that down. I won't hurt anyone."

I didn't move, but jumped slightly at Rex's biting tone. "What's your number and rank?"

The clone looked back at Rex, tapping his tool into the ground and letting out a small chuckle. "My name is Lawquane. Cut Lawquane. And I'm just a simple farmer."

Everything clicked in my head, my pistol dropping back to my side. He was the husband Suu had spoken about. Her daughter's mention of Rex looking like her father certainly made sense now.

"You're a deserter," Rex growled, his dark tone catching me off guard. I'd never heard him sound like that...or felt his signature in such a powerful way. It nearly knocked me off balance.

"Rex," I hissed, trying to get him to back off.

"Well," Cut chuckled, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "I like to think I'm simply exercising my right to choose." He stepped away to put his tool back on the wall. "To choose not to kill for a living."

My pistol was back in its holster now. This man was no threat. In reality, it was the most peaceful force signature I'd felt from a clone...ever. I liked him.

Of course the sting of my last conversation with Rex was revitalized under the knowledge that Cut broke rules for love. Not that I loved Rex or anything.

The lights came on under Cut's hand as Rex sat hunched on the bench. "That is not your choice to make," Rex said coldly. "You swore an oath to the Republic. You have a duty."

"I have a duty," Cut responded steadily, not even affected by Rex's biting tongue. "You're right. But it's to my family."

I smiled genuinely. He sounded like Jango. I wondered for a moment if my thoughts had been guided by the force. Why else would I have been thinking about family before all this?

Then again, maybe it was me trying to convince myself that I would be great without love. I silently chastised myself for letting emotions get in my way. No attachments. That was my rule before it was anyone else's. Rex was wise for following suit.

"Does that count?" Cut had continued. "Or do you still plan to turn me in?"

"Turn you in?" I started, looking at Rex with shock.

"Do I have a choice?" Rex's words were growled through clenched teeth.

"Rex," I hissed again. "Of course we're not turning him in."

"It's my duty, Kida," he spit at me, my face going hot in anger.

I stuck my finger in his face. "Yeah, well your duty can suck my-"

"Daddy, you're home!" I stopped my words at the young girl's cry of joy, turning to see Suu and her children racing into the barm. His daughter threw herself into his arms, her eyes alight with excitement.

"Look what I drew you, Dad!" the boy yelled from his sister's side, holding up a rather rough drawing of what I assumed was a Twi'lek.

Cut laughed heartily, taking the paper and looking at it with such interest, I wondered for a moment if I missed something. "Well, well, well," he chuckled, his mouth wide in a genuine smile. He rubbed his knuckles over his son's helmet. "That's great, Jek."

Suu laughed gently, gesturing between our group. "I see you all have met."

"He looks just like you, Daddy," Shaeeah gushed. "I told them."

Cut seemed to worry for a moment, but it didn't show on his face. "Oh, you did, huh? I was just making our guest, Captain…" he paused as he stood, smirking at Rex. "What's your number?"

I let out a gentle huff of laughter, crossing my arms. I certainly liked this Cut Lawquane.

The captain nudged me in disapproval before answering. "Rex. I also have a name, believe it or not."

"He was injured," Suu explained in her accented voice. "His men brought him here. I told them he could stay, just for the night."

"'Course he can," Cut responded cheerfully. "We never turn away those in need, do we?"

His children smiled widely at him. "No," Jek answered. "We always help anyone we can." I couldn't help but smile at them. The youngest reminded me of Boba...back when he still acted like a boy.

I knelt down, smiling. "And I'm very grateful for that," I said gently, glancing up at the frowning Rex. I slapped his leg with the back of my hand. "We both are."

"Right," Cut jumped in. "I didn't catch your name. Kida…" He lifted his eyebrows for me to finish, but I shook my head and stood.

"Just Kida. I don't have a family name." Rex huffed behind me, looking away. I glanced over my shoulder and scowled at him.

"He doesn't seem to agree," Cut tried.

I sighed lowly. "I don't know my birth name," I allowed. "But legally…my name is Fett." I wasn't sure why I told him. Maybe because he was a clone and they made me feel comfortable. Or maybe it was how genuine he felt through the force.

Cut seemed shocked, but read my expression and thankfully, didn't press for details. He shook my hand. They were different than the soldiers'. Still strong and callused, but in a different way. A farmer's hands.

"And are you a jedi?"

I snorted, shaking my head. "No, I'm not." Lawquane seemed confused, so Rex cut in, his voice icy.

"She's a bounty hunter. She's not even part of this war."

I scowled, not turning to look at Rex. "Thank you…for your input, Captain."

Cut lifted an eyebrow at our exchange. "So why are you here?"

"I've worked for the Republic before. But this time, I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But your brothers are my friends...most of them," I added as I ground my teeth angrily.

Cut chuckled lowly at me before looking between the two of us. "Right. You look hungry, Rex."

"No, I-I'm fine," Rex tried, flustered. "I-I'll stay here."

"You haven't eaten," I reminded gently, despite my anger. I might have wanted to slap him in that moment, but I still didn't want him to die.

"No," Jek protested from beside the bench. "You have to eat with us! Please?" The children started alternating between who said 'please' as Cut laughed.

"They're never gonna stop till you say yes."

"Alright," Rex allowed, seeming altogether panicked. "I-I'll join you." The kids let out cheers as Cut offered his arm to the captain. Rex took it slowly, letting his brother pull him from the bench.

Lawquane gave Rex a smile, before casting it to me. "I hope you'll join us as well, Miss Fett."

I winced. "Please, just Kida. But I'd love to." He smiled at me, Suu leading her children inside as I found Rex's shirt on the ground. "Not a kids guy, huh?" I tried to tease as I presented Rex with his shirt, moving to shift his sling.

He pushed me away grumpily. "I can do it myself," he hissed. I scowled at him.

"I'll...give you two a moment," Cut said from the doorway. "When you're ready, the front door is open."

"Thank you," I said, giving him a nod before rounding on Rex. "What the hell is your problem?"

"I don't have-"

"Gev! You have been nothing but cold to Cut and his family. Is this all because you couldn't go on this stupid mission?"

"Cut is a deserter," Rex hissed at me as I forced him to let me remove the sling.

"Yeah," I said back with a stoney voice. "And I'm just a bounty hunter." I maneuvered his useless arm into his black shirt. "I'm not letting you report him, Rex," I said as I helped his head through.

"I have to," he said, trying his best to make his voice gentler. "He swore an oath."

"What? When he was a teen? What was he supposed to do? Not take the oath and be sent to reconditioning? You know what that means to the Kaminoans, Rex."

He set his jaw, looking away as I pulled the shirt down. "You wouldn't kill me. And that's what it would take to stop me."

"He achieved something very few people have nowadays," I argued. "A family. Love." I shook my head. "You're reporting him because you're afraid. Not because it's the right thing." I put the sling back on him, watching as he opened his mouth to protest. "I'm pretty upset with you right now, so don't think I won't shoot you." His mouth snapped closed, his golden eyes wide. "Now you're going to go into that house and be so kriffing polite to that family that you shit stardust for weeks, understand?"

His eyebrows lifted at my tone, but he brushed past me towards the house, nonetheless. He stopped at the doorway to the barn, looking back at me, his lips curling just slightly. "I hate to say it," he started, a huff of laughter coming from his nose. "But you'd make a good commander."

I didn't respond as he went into the house, my eyes still boring into the bench. I swallowed thickly, lifting my gaze towards the stars above. They were so clear out here, even through the grimy windows of the barn. It was nothing like Coruscant, where the lights of the city were so bright, they almost made the night sky look like the day. Or where I actually lived...below the surface...where stars were just things you dreamed about or projected onto your ceiling with some half-broken trinket you'd repaired.

I sighed gently as I walked from the barn and hesitated on the stairs up to the house. Rex's words still rang in my ears, even though I tried my best to brush them off.

"I could never love you."

My eyes closed while I stood in the open, my legs surprisingly exhausted. I guess I hadn't eaten a real meal in a while. Or actually slept well… Though a good night's rest was rare when it was riddled with dreams.

I found myself wishing Jango was there, despite knowing he'd tell me it was better to not be attached. To let Rex pull away. Yet, I had to face a clone who'd chosen his own path and found happiness.

Not that I was thinking about a family with Rex...but still...the potential of even having the thought…

"Kida?" Suu's accented voice pulled me from my thoughts gently from where she stood on the porch. "If you're ready, dinner is on the table."

I cleared my throat, surprised by the lump of emotion that had formed there. "Of course. I didn't mean to keep you waiting."

She smiled at me and I could feel her thoughts swirling. She was an intelligent woman. Some part of her knew what my expression meant, even if she'd only seen it in the brief moment before she spoke. "You didn't keep us waiting," she reassured gently. "But when you're ready, there's a seat for you."

I felt a warmth in my chest under her gaze. I hadn't sat at a table with a family to dine in...years. Even if it wasn't my family, maybe I could pretend. Just for the night.

I nodded to her before she turned and reentered her home. I went to follow, but stopped, my thumb brushing over my pistols strapped to my hips. With my teeth gnawing my cheek, I returned to the barn quickly to shed my pistols and armor, leaving me in my dark gray pants and black tank top.

Satisfied that I no longer looked ready to murder someone, I pulled open the door to the farmhouse. Inside, Suu and her children were already sitting at a round table, the mother giving me a small smile in greeting, her blue eyes rolling over in an attempt at amusement towards the two men.

Rex sat beside Cut, who was cutting up a cooked creature-one of the ones I'd seen fleeing before the clone army before. I swallowed slowly, apologizing under my breath for my tardiness before taking the only open seat left-nestled between Suu and Rex.

Cut offered a piece of meat to his daughter, continuing the conversation I seemed to have missed the beginning of. "Yes, well you and I may be clones, but we're still individuals." I breathed slowly through my nose, frustrated that Rex was still fighting about this. Then again...I suppose I'd have been surprised if he didn't. "You have a name, rather than a number, Captain," Cut continued, filling another plate with meat. "Why is that?"

Rex thought for a moment. "Perhaps our leaders feel it's a more efficient way of distinguishing us." His voice was deep. Deeper than usual.

I cut my gaze to him at his words, my chest hurting. I wanted to slap myself, and then him. Maybe slap myself and punch him. Yeah. That sounded nice.

"More efficient than a number?" Cut questioned, humming. "I doubt the Kaminoans think that way." He handed a plate to me, my stomach growling in response.

I smiled at the clone, knowing he was right. I had a hatred for the Kaminoans. Not only were they rather emotionless and cruel, but they had sticks so far up their asses, I was convinced it was how they supported their long necks.

"Still," Cut continued as he kept cutting up dinner. "A name has to make you feel unique. Especially in an army where everyone looks like you, and talks like you-"

"Actually," Rex cut the man off, lifting his good hand. "I've never really thought about it." His golden eyes cut to me, but in a flash, were focused back on the table.

Cut chuckled, holding a plate in his hand. "Yes, you have."

"Well, how would you know?" Rex challenged. Cut approached, handing the last plate to his brother and leaning close.

"Because I'm as close to you as any life form can be." Anxiety rippled from Rex as Cut stared into his eyes. "I've seen how you look at my family. Our home," Cut allowed, finally leaning back and gesturing at the table of eating creatures. I stopped with my first bite halfway to my mouth.

I watched Rex look around the table, Shaeeah meeting his gaze with an innocent face. His eyes dropped to the table in thought as Cut continued.

"Come on, Rex, admit it. You've thought about what your life could look like if you could also leave the army."

My heart ached, my appetite fleeing me as my hand slowly returned the fork to the plate. Suu's gaze was on me-gentle and kind-but I could feel the sadness below. Not for anything in her life. She was happy. It was for me. For what I could never have.

"Choose the life you want," Cut had continued.

"What if I am choosing the life I want?" Rex argued, his back straightening in the chair. I shifted uncomfortably in my own. "What if I'm staying in the army because it's meaningful to me?"

I looked at him abruptly, my mouth partly open to speak, but I hesitated. That was new. I wasn't really one to hold my tongue. Was it meaningful to him? I thought of what Obi-wan had said.

"But you care about people. And the Separatist army is hurting people across the galaxy."

Was that enough to make it meaningful to me? A part of me said that it should be. But another part-a selfish part-told me to run. Run from the attachment that would continue. Run from the inevitable loss I would face. Run from the heartbreak Rex was bound to give me...had already given me.

I'd grown attached without any consent on my part. It just happened. And I'd gotten hurt for it.

"And how is it meaningful?" Cut asked, voicing my own skepticism that had been lost in my confusing whirl of emotions.

"Because I'm part of the most pivotal moment of the history of the Republic," Rex explained, his voice firm and full of fervor. "If we fail, then our children, and their children, could be forced to live under and evil I can't well imagine."

I had to admit, the speech was convincing. I still wanted to punch him in the nose for being an osi'kovid, though.

"If you were to have children, of course," Cut allowed, a small smile quirking at his lips. "But that would be against the rules, wouldn't it? Isn't that what somebody programmed you to believe, Captain?"

I stared at my plate of untouched food, wishing I could just eat it already. But I couldn't. My stomach was turning, my thoughts racing with emotions I just wanted to go away.

"No, Cut," Rex said firmly, looking hard at the table. "It's simply what I believe. It doesn't matter if it's my children or other people's children. Does that meet with your approval?" His tone was dark again. I almost nudged him with my foot, but as I moved, I stopped myself. Something told me that contact with him right now would be like a hot poker.

"Perfectly," Cut said lightly. "To each his own, that's what I always say."

"What does that mean, Daddy?" Shaeeah asked, mouth full of food.

Her father smiled down at her, my chest clenching. For a brief moment as Cut brushed his thumb over his daughter's chin, I saw Boba and I in the children's places, Jango's voice reverberating through the room instead of Cut's.

"It means you can do anything with your life that you want to."

"You're not a slave anymore, ad'ika," Jango said, his eyebrow lifting. "You don't have to do anything."

"But you said-"

"I said you should."

I scowled at him, my face still thin and hollow despite the supplements Jango had demanded from the Kaminoans for me. "You dragged me here," I accused, gesturing to the training room.

Jango shrugged with a chuckle. "It's a miracle you made it as a slave. You don't have a filter."

"I do," I allowed, crossing my arms. "But you said I don't have to do anything anymore."

"You don't," he responded easily, arms spread to show the room. "You can sit here while I train. But know you won't get any stronger or smarter sitting there. You won't learn to fend for yourself. You won't have as much of a choice to decide what you want to do with your life."

He saw the flash of uncertainty across my face, my eyes wide. "I...get to decide." It wasn't a question. Merely a statement filled with awe. Realization.

"With the right tools, yes." Jango's voice was gentle, his gaze soft.

I walked up to him, holding up my tiny fists. "Then teach me."

The Mandalorian chuckled, easily pushing my hands down. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. First things first," he said, kneeling and touching his finger to my forehead. "You need to learn to be in charge up here," his hand moved to hold up my fist again, poking at my bicep playfully. "Before you can be in control here. Understand?" I nodded vigorously, despite only following a little. "Good," he smiled. "Let's begin."

"Mommy," a little voice drew me slowly from my memories. "Why is she staring at me?" I blinked a few times, realizing all eyes were on me as I had been blatantly staring at Shaeeah.

I cleared my throat, blinking away the moisture that had snuck up on me. "I'm sorry," I breathed. "I got...lost in thought."

"Are you alright?" Suu asked. I never had a mother. Or… I did, but she either wasn't alive or didn't stick around long enough for me to remember her. Still, had I remembered, I imagined her voice sounded a lot like Suu's in that moment.

I nodded to her. "Yeah. Just tired, I think. I haven't slept a lot in the past few rotations." She hummed, clearly not believing me. I tried to convince her by stuffing food in my mouth. Finally.

And kriff, was it good. I hadn't had home cooked food, especially from a farm, in…ever.

"Everything is delicious," I tried, giving Suu a forced smile. "Thank you again for being so hospitable."

"Even if you are a deserter," Rex grumbled, his eyes on his food.

I shot him a glare. "Te'habi bevik gar'shebs," I growled at him, earning a laugh from Cut, the man nearly choking on his drink.

He ignored Rex's comment, focusing on me instead. "I like you," he proclaimed. "Your Mando'a is very good. Vulgar," he chuckled. "But good."

"She learned from the best," Rex said, apparently trying to do as I'd told him.

"Right," Cut nodded. "Fett."

I shook my head. "Deathwatch, actually." The table stilled, the kids and Suu in curiosity, the clones in shock. My eyes lifted to look around the table, seeing Cut's gaze scanning over me. Finally, it settled on my forearm, which I turned over self-consciously.

"I'm sorry," he apologized immediately. "I didn't mean-"

I shook my head, giving him a smile. "Don't. I volunteered the information. Jango rescued me from Death Watch when I was thirteen. Language comes easily to me," I admitted with a shrug. "So by the time I was with Jango on Kamino, I already knew most of the language. The harshest version, too." I chuckled gently, remembering the look on his face when a thirteen year old spoke the terms I had. "He was never very fond of my...colorful vocabulary."

Rex let out a small huff of laughter while Cut bellowed. When he sobered, he glanced between Rex and I briefly before leaning forward. "You weren't that squirt who dragged Boba all over the complex, were you?"

I surprised myself with a laugh, lifting my shoulders. "Guilty." Maybe he knew how upset I was. Maybe he was trying to help. Even if he wasn't, I appreciated the laughter. "Actually," I admitted. "That's why I was looking at your daughter. For a second, you and your kids reminded me of…" My voice trailed off for a second before I found my words again. "Reminded me of when I had a family."

"What happened to your family?" Jek asked, his voice filled with concern. "Do you not have a dad?"

"Jek," Suu started to scold but I lifted my hand.

"No, it's okay." I leaned forward on the table, giving the boy a smile. "I have a dad, he's just...gone away for a while."

"You're sad," Shaeeah stated, her eyes big.

"I am," I admitted, surprising myself with my openness. I could feel Rex's surprise at my admittance, too. "But only because I didn't get to spend as much time with him as I wanted."

"But he's coming back, right?" Jek asked.

I smiled at both of the kids, feeling the gazes of the adults in the room. "No," I said, seeing their faces fall. "But one day, I'll go find him myself."

Jek and Shaeeah smiled genuinely. "I know you'll find him," the girl said firmly. "You look really strong."

I smiled and thanked her before leaning back, letting myself eat more of the dinner. Gazes were still on me and I could feel Rex's turmoil. He wanted to comfort me, but his words in the barn earlier that night were ringing in his ears too.

That was fine. I didn't need him to comfort me.

I finished my dinner in silence, trying my best to block out the swirling emotions of the table and ignore my own.

When everyone finished, Suu shooed her kids away to do their chores as she rose to clean the table. I eagerly joined her, scooping up Rex's and Cut's plates without a word and hurrying after the Twi'lek.

"You didn't have to," Suu said gently as I put the plates down beside her at the sink. I shrugged to her, offering to take the plate she had just cleaned and dry it.

"It's the least I can do for letting us stay. And feeding us."

She smiled at me, handing me the wet plate and gesturing to the rag I should use to dry it. Between the two of us, it only took a few minutes, Rex and Cut talking lowly at the table still. I leaned against the counter beside the Twi'lek, my gaze betraying me as it settled on the clone captain.

"How did you and Cut-" I started, but my voice dropped off. My head was starting to hurt from holding back tears. What had gotten into me? This was why I needed to stay away from the war.

"I met Cut years ago," she answered quietly, her eyes on her husband as he talked to Rex. "He was injured. Frightened. Lost. My father and I offered him somewhere to stay until he could collect himself." She shrugged. "He never left. He and I fell in love and ended up building this farm together."

"It's amazing," I admitted, giving her a smile.

"Have you ever been in love?"

I was rattled by her question, lifting my eyebrows at her before chuckling. "My line of work doesn't leave a whole lot of room for affection."

"Perhaps," she allowed, her long pink fingers gently curling around my left wrist and turning it, exposing my slave brand. "But you chose to control your life, no? You choose what you do with it."

I pulled my hand from hers softly, huffing laughter through my nose. "I thought so. But no matter what I do, this war keeps finding me."

Suu hummed, turning to rummage through her cupboard as she spoke. Across from us, Rex and Cut moved to a table near the windows, the table lighting up with a game of dejarik holochess.

"Perhaps," Suu mused from within the cupboards. "The war is what you're meant to be a part of, just as Cut was meant to be here." She turned her head, peering at me thoughtfully.

"I don't feel like that's fair," I grumbled. "He gets a nice farm with a nice family…I get war? Death?"

Suu sighed, bringing forth two glasses and a tall pitcher of a dark liquid. "No, it isn't fair. But I see how you look at Rex." My eyes shot to her, my face heating in panic. "I used to look at Cut that way when my father first forbid anything between us."

I swallowed. "It's not mutual," I tried, making the Twi'lek laugh.

She poured the dark liquid into the cups, giving me a look. "Please. I've spent the last few years with a clone as my husband and father to my children. I know what their looks mean."

"I grew up with them," I argued grumpily, crossing my arms. "I also know."

"I don't doubt it," she said, offering me a cup. "But I also know that when a girl is emotionally involved, we become blind."

"No thank you," I said to the liquor. "It dulls the senses."

Her brow arched. "That's the point. Drink it. You're safe here. Maybe it will relax you finally." I chuckled at her forwardness, taking the glass and touching it gently to hers.

I took a sip. "I like to think I'm above letting my emotions blind me. Jango taught me better."

"Darling," Suu laughed, leaning close to me. "No one is above love."

"It's not-" I started, flushing red, but her laughter cut me off as she moved to sit by the furnace, her children scampering down the stairs. Jek crawled towards his mother's lap happily, Shaeeah giving me a smile and holding up her hoverball.

I let the conversation drop, sitting on the floor across from Shaeeah and tossing the ball back and forth while Rex and Cut played holochess. The table's holographic figures let out little screeches of victory and distress as they played silently.

Jek started whispering to his mother, Shaeeah turning to listen as I took another sip of the dark liquor, watching Rex's figure demolish one of Cut's.

"Good move," Cut admitted, leaning back to look over the board. "Very good move."

I could feel Rex's hesitation, but he pushed past it. Thankfully, his voice was gentler now than it had been before. Perhaps whatever conversation he and Cut had continued when I left the table had lessened his anger. Still, he had a determined tone to his voice when he spoke. Like he needed the answers to live.

"So what was it?"

"What made me decide to leave the core?" Cut clarified as he fiddled with his own controls, his players moving to take out one of Rex's. He sighed. "Shortly after the Battle of Geonosis, our troop transport got caught between two Separatist gunships." The room fell silent as we all listened. "They fired on us with everything they had. We crashed. Most of us were either dead or severely injured."

The room shifted as a wave of sadness poured over him, my vision blurring slightly. I heard screams echoing, but they were far away. Not in distance. In time. I was frightened...but not because of anything now. I felt Cut's fear. When he crashed.

"So when they started working their way through the wounded," Cut continued, my eyes turning to see what no one else in the room was seeing. A battle droid, its metal foot planted on a pleading clone's chest. It pulled the trigger, my heart leaping to my throat with the fear Cut had felt that day. "I knew there was no hope. I ran." Passing bodies of dead clones and debris. Fire. The sound of screams and blasters going off as the Separatists picked them off.

Cut sighed as my vision returned to the present, my breathing faster than normal. Thankfully, all eyes were on Cut. I didn't know what had just happened. I knew it was the force...but I didn't know how. Maybe Cut was feeling so deeply in that moment...I could see what he had seen?

I wished I could ask these questions. But any inkling of my apparent inclination to the force to the jedi would lead to either my death or my imprisonment. I was threat now, even before they knew I had manifested abilities.

"It still haunts me," Cut breathed.

Rex regarded him with a sad gaze. "I'm sorry."

"It's the day I felt my life didn't have any meaning," Cut explained as he stood from the holochess table. "Everyone I cared about-my team-was gone." He moved away from Rex, looking lovingly towards his family. "I was just another expendable clone, waiting for my turn to be slaughtered in a war that made no sense to me. Can you understand that, Rex?"

Rex's face was painted with sadness. "I've been in countless battles and lost many brothers. They were my family," he admitted, his eyes downcast. "My home." He turned back to the game, moving his figures expertly.

Cut resigned himself from the conversation, sitting across from the captain again. Beside me, the kids hopped up and raced to their father's side, practically tripping over my legs on the way.

"Daddy," Shaeeah said sweetly. "We finished our chores. Can we go outside and play?"

"Please?" Jek added, twisting his little fingers together in hope.

Cut smiled gently, letting out a sigh. "Okay. Only for a few minutes."

"Thank you, Daddy!" his daughter cried, happily touching his arm before dragging Jek towards the door. "Come on Jek!"

"And keep the house in view," Cut called after them as they raced away

I watched them leave, surprised when I turned and saw a genuine smile on Rex's face. It was small and soft...but genuine.

"We will," Shaeeah called back as she pushed open the door.

"You have wonderful children," Rex said gently, making Cut smile.

"I know you think I'm a coward, Rex," Cut said making the captain jump slightly. "But believe me, I'll fight to my last breath to keep them safe."

The two men quieted themselves as they continued playing, my eyes watching the liquid swirl in my glass.

"So Kida," Cut said, his focus still mostly on the game. "What is it you do?"

I glanced between the two clones, shrugging from my place on the ground. "Rex wasn't lying earlier. I'm a bounty hunter."

"Did Jango teach you?"

I nodded. "And others."

"What kind of jobs do you take?"

I lifted my eyebrow at him, taking another sip of the liquor. "Why does this feel like I'm being interrogated?"

He shrugged. "Not just anyone has Jaig eyes on their back." I felt my face grow red. "Besides, I want to know what draws Rex to you."

I choked on my drink, coughing violently. "Freykaa," Suu scolded gently in Ryl. I shook my head at her, waving my hand.

When I composed myself, I focused my eyes enough to see Rex looking equally as uncomfortable. "I beg your pardon?" I did my best to act surprised. Maybe even aloof.

"I think it's clear why this is so hard for you both," Cut tried, gesturing to the room his family spent their days in. "It's something you're denying yourselves."

"I really don't think you're getting this, here," I argued.

Cut only laughed. "I saw the way you two bickered. You're practically a couple."

"Kida and I are coworkers. She's a great warrior," Rex explained. "My men and I have a lot of respect for her."

I became aware of a metallic taste in my mouth from my teeth grinding down on my cheek. He didn't even try to say we were friends. Coworkers. Coworkers didn't play with each other's feelings like that.

At least...I didn't think they did. I had workers, not coworkers. And when I did do a joint job, it's not like we ever pretended to like each other's company if we didn't.

"If respect is what you want to call it." Suu chuckled at her husband's persistence, but I could feel Rex's frustration growing again.

"Cut," I tried, but my mind started to wander, picking up on something. The force tickled at my senses. It was dark. Foreboding. "I really don't think…" I stopped my words as screams echoed through the force again. I turned my head sideways, looking out the open door. "Did you...hear that?"

"Don't try to change the subject," Cut chuckled, but Rex silenced him with a worried look in my direction.

"Kida," he said, his voice gentle towards me for the first time since landing on the planet. "Are you alright?"

I didn't respond, my mouth slightly open as I tried to focus my thoughts, searching frantically for what the force was trying to warn me about. Finally, I shook my head. "I don't know. Something's...wrong."

"Wrong?" Suu asked, looking at me curiously. "What are you talking about?"

"I thought you said she wasn't a jedi," Cut said slowly, his gaze on me hardening.

"She isn't," Rex reassured, but I could hear the wavering in his own voice. The uncertainty as I lifted my tired body from the floor, ignoring the remainder of my drink and looking out into the moonlit fields.

"They're screaming," I breathed, their voices echoing through the force in terror.

They all moved to question me, but then the screams of Shaeeah and Jek pierced the air, all hell breaking loose.

MANDO'A

Ad'ika- little one

Buir- father

Gev! - stop it!

Osi'kovid- shithead

Te'habi bevik gar'shebs- pull that stick out of your ass

RYL

Freykaa-beloved

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

As always, reviews/likes/comments are welcome. Thank you for all the love.

For those of you who are looking for more banter, I promise it will come eventually. But Rex is rather duty-bound, and while not by-the-book, he has a lot of honor tied to his role in the GAR. Thus, we gotta overcome some boundaries here first. And even then, I likely won't have him openly flirting with her, since it's against regulation.

Best,

Ryder