Rex returned to his room, hopeless and in despair. The disarray of his things was only a reminder of the disaster this rotation had become. The captain scratched the back of his head as the little creature stared up at him longingly.

A blaring beep sounded through his room, echoing down the hallways. Admiral Yularan's garbled voice stated, "Attention crew! We are returning to the planet of Tatooine and will arrive in one rotation. Those of officer status must return to the bridge for mission briefing."

"Just one more rotation and you'll be back at Tatooine in no time," the captain remarked, speaking to the baby bantha.

Rex grappled his backpack off the hook on his wall. His gloved hands then reached for the bantha, getting tangled in its messy fur. The creature protested – groaning and crying – to no avail. He swung the baby into the pack with its face upright. The animals gaze shifted to Rex once again. Looking down at the bantha, Rex continued, "Let's get you to the cargo hold," before throwing the flap of the pack over the bantha.

His plan was to hide the creature in the cargo hold until they arrived, then smuggle it onto the planet. With any luck, things would go his way.

Captain Rex exited the room and began heading down the dark corridors. With each bend, he carefully stuck his head out, making sure the way was clear from prying eyes.

"Rex," General Skywalker's voice was unmistakable to Rex, "there you are. I've been looking all over for you."

Panic bells begun to ring through Rex's helmet – figuratively. He instantly turned around, keeping the bantha backpack out of Anakin's view. "Uh—General Skywalker!"

"We need you on the bridge," Anakin continued, "wouldn't want to keep Obi-Wan waiting."

"N-no sir, of course not." Rex paused before speaking, "I'll, eh, be right up, General."

"Come on, Rex," Anakin motioned down the corridor. "Let's get going. I don't want to be the one telling Obi-Wan that we were late."

"I was—"

Anakin had already begun to move down the hall, towards the bridge. Reluctantly, Rex followed. He gulped nervously, but there was nothing that he could do. The captain focused on maintaining a steady pace behind Skywalker. He could only hope that no-one would question what he was carrying.

The swoosh of the door opening snapped Rex out of his thoughts. Anakin lead the way into the briefing room with Rex coming close behind. The blue hue from the screens and maps illuminated most of the room. General Kenobi and Admiral Yularan stood by the central holoprojector table. The faded figures of Master Windu and Master Yoda flickered from the projector.

"Anakin, you're here," Obi-Wan commented.

"What did I miss?" Anakin retorted smugly as he approached the table.

Master Yoda spoke, "Return to Tatooine, you must. Problem with the Hutts, there is."

Anakin's face twisted in disgust at the mention of Tatooine. "What is it now?"

"It seems that Jabba has refused to let our Republic troops through his system," Kenobi stated, "we're not sure why."

Rex remained silent. He stood up straight, attempting to seem as normal as possible. The movement in his backpack did not help ease his nerves.

"Sense Jabba's anger, I do." Yoda pointed his stick at Kenobi.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes as if to sense it. "Yes, I too sense-," he paused, furrowing his brows, "—another lifeform...in this room."

Captain Rex froze in fear.

"A spy!" Anakin accused no one in particular.

General Kenobi shook his head. "No...something different, small, like an...animal."

The bantha uncomfortably shifted around in the backpack. Rex closed his eyes, hoping that the baby would calm down.

"How is that—"

A loud belch erupted from behind Rex, interrupting Anakin. The hollow sound ripped through the air, followed by a foul stench. All eyes turn to the captain.

Before Rex can speak, another burp sounded through the air – this one shorter than the last. All the officers in the room cease their conversation, as do the jedi. Rex stared back at the jedi, unsure of what to do.

Almost immediately, Anakin reached behind him, pulling up the flap of the pack. Skywalker's eyes opened wider than one would think possible. "Is that—a bantha?"

"Oh my," Kenobi remarked.

"It's—a long story, General," Rex stuttered.

Anakin flailed his arms to his sides. "And you brought it here?"

"This is unusual behaviour, Captain," Mace Windu interjected over the holoprojector.

"It wasn't my intent—"

"Silence!" Master Yoda's voice boomed through the table, "Time to argue, we have not. Chance, this was not. Brought by the force, this bantha was - useful it could be. Bring this bantha to meet Jabba, you shall."

Anakin interrupted, "But—"

"No more of this, I shall hear. Go to Tatooine, speak to Jabba. Follow your instincts, you must." Yoda then ended the transmission, leaving everyone confused.

"I have to say, this is all rather strange," Kenobi stated while stroking his beard. "Both of you, go to the loading docks. I'll accompany Anakin to handle the negotiations. We all know what happened last time you went on your own."

After Anakin's many protests, him and Rex went down to the hangar has instructed. He gave Rex a gruelling interrogation on the way, so, when they finally arrived, it was somewhat of a relief for the captain.

Clone troopers loaded crates and cargo on and off the ships. The vast depth of the room stretched on and on. It always made Rex be rather intimidated, as if he was only a small being in the enormous ship. The hanger was bustling, but the two managed to find their way to Anakins ship – The Twilight. Captain Rex saluted the clones as they evacuated the area upon Anakin's arrival.

After they boarded the ship, Rex slipped his pack off his back and rested it on his lap. He faced the little bantha, contemplating how he managed to find himself in this position – with a bantha on a star cruiser.

Skywalker and Rex flew down to the planet with little difficulty, save that of Anakins complaints. They ported near Jabba's palace, only a few clicks away. Leaving the ship, they began their journey to the palace.