Two cups of caf and a full stomach made Rex restless. He was ready to take on a full battalion of battle droids. Unfortunately, there were no tinnies around and Cody was in no shape for sparring. He started pacing the confines of his cell, trying to burn off a bit of pent-up energy. Cody tolerated it, having done much the same while he was sleeping. Alright, he tolerated it for exactly 100 circuits back and forth, and then called an end to it. With an impatient hand gesture, he abruptly ordered Rex to drop and give him 50.

Rex snorted at being ordered around like a shinie. But, he did it anyway. And, kept going. Cody watched from his bunk, wishing he could do calisthenics. He'd lost weight and muscle tone during his long recovery at 'Cestus. Rex displayed no signs of having been injured. He pushed through a full set of warm-ups, each with the perfect form of an ARC trooper. Wherever he'd been during his time away, he'd obviously kept himself in fighting form.

Cody continued to watch him, surprised at himself he was a bit jealous. Troopers prided themselves on their battle readiness. He was behind. Not as fit. Or, as ready to command. Fek. None of it mattered if he was never getting out of here.

The lighting blinked in their cell and the force shield dropped. Rex rolled lightly to his feet, and they turned as one to the entrance of their cell to the face the Coruscant Guard Commander.

"What is it, Fox?" Rex asked, slightly out of breath from his workout.

Fox regarded Rex curiously, noting the sweat trickling down his brow. "Bored?"

"Stir crazy," Rex admitted. .

"Says the trooper who's been in here a day. Well, you can get some fresh air, or workout or what not, you're getting out."

"What about Cody?"

"He has to stay. Not my call. Let's go."

Rex exchanged a look with Cody, his loyalties torn. Being locked up was driving him crazy, but at least he could watch over Cody.

"Get out of here, Rex," Cody gestured with his chin toward the exit of the cell. "I'll make it an order, if need be. Now go."

Rex gave Cody a searching look. "Take care of yourself, brother."

It was as much of a goodbye as one could get in a place like the RMB. He resisted the urge to look back at Cody as he left the cell. Fox could keep Cody safe, couldn't he? He'd be alright and get out of there. Right? Rex wished he was more sure of all of these things. It would make it much easier to leave.

Skywalker was waiting for him in Fox's office and greeted him enthusiastically. "Rex! Good to see you. I fixed everything with the Chancellor."

"Eh... thank you, sir."

"Yes, yes," Skywalker clapped him on the shoulder with vigorous enthusiasm, "you're a free man again."

Rex didn't think he'd ever actually been free. Or, even considered a man in the eyes of the Republic. He was a clone. An important distinction. But, it wasn't wise to upset the General when he was in such an officious good mood. Best to go along with it. "Thank you, sir."

"The Chancellor wishes to speak with you himself. Great news, right?"

"Er... " In light of what Fox had implied to them about the Chancellor, Rex wasn't going to put a meeting with him in the category of great news. He diplomatically changed the topic. "What about Cody?"

"Not to worry. I put in a word for Cody. The Chancellor has taken a special interest in his case."

Rex's spine turned to ice and he couldn't breathe. Beyond what Fox had told them, he couldn't even define why he reacted so strongly. Only that nothing about this felt right. He was tired of politely thanking Skywalker, so he only nodded numbly.

"Told you I'd fix everything," Skywalker said proudly. He stood in the middle of Fox's office beaming.

"Rex, you are being remanded into the custody of your commanding officer until a formal hearing by Jedi Council," Fox said. "I am allowed to return your armor to you, with exceptions. I am to hold your comms and weapons, pending the hearing. Is this understood?"

He nodded again. Half-listening. He was getting his kit back, but not fully. Made sense, though. Republic Intelligence, or the Security Bureau, probably wanted more time to scrub through his bucket and look for data on where he'd been for the past three months. Good thing Fives had already gone through it and scrubbed it clean. They weren't going to find anything.

But, wait. What? Why did he have to go before the Council again? Skywalker was back. Why wasn't his disciplinary action being left to Skywalker? He didn't get a chance to ask, the General was talking to him again. "As soon as we get these formalities behind us, we're shipping out." Shipping out? The 501st was being deployed?

He gave Skywalker a quizzical look. "Sir?"

Skywalker laughed. "Now, you sound exactly like the Rex I know. Come on." His voice was light-hearted and confident. Every bit the General the men were willing to follow into battle no matter what the odds or how crazy the battle plan.

Fox returned his armor to him, minus his bucket and twin DC-15s. Rex quickly suited back up. It was good to be back in his kit, although he had to adjust his shoulder armor twice, as it didn't seem to sit right without his bucket. It was better than no kit, though.

Fox handed a datapad to Skywalker for signature. The flimsiwork completed, Fox saluted sharply. "He's all yours, then, General."

Two shock troopers walked them out as far as the perimeter of the prison grounds, but it seemed more of an honor guard escort for a visiting Jedi than the closely following guard meant to keep a prisoner from escaping. The guards saluted Skywalker once they reached the perimeter of the RMB, and then retreated.

They were alone.

With the billions of others who called the city-planet home.

But, it still seemed a vast improvement over being confined at the RMB.

He walked beside his General, content to blend into the crowded streets of Coruscant.

"This way," Skywalker said, pointing toward the unmistakable shape of the Temple.

"Sir?" He had to face the Council already? He'd assumed he was headed back to the barracks to rejoin Admiral Yularen and the 501st.

Skywalker shook his head. "Sorry, Rex. I'm responsible for you until the Council hearing, but I have a meeting with a senator. So, Ahsoka is in charge until I return."

"I see, sir." He could just guess which senator the General was so eager to see after a long absence away. "Eh, sir, can the Commander... er... be in charge back at the barracks?" He'd spent enough time at the Jedi Temple. Last thing he wanted was any more time there.

"The barracks, the Temple," he shrugged. "My understanding is I'm responsible for you until the Council meeting. Since I have business to attend to, I am delegating the task to Ahsoka." It was obvious he'd already moved on and was thinking more about his evening, and less about the logistics of Rex, Ahsoka and what they should be doing until the Council meeting.

A nearby uproar drew their attention. Two Mutts being walked nearby entangled their leashes. The large canines attacked each other even as their frazzled owners shouted desperately, trying to pull them apart. Skywalker surged forward to help, calming the creatures with ease. Rex stayed back. This was the sort of situation Skywalker excelled at doing by himself.

The pampered Coruscanti citizens gushed over Skywalker, especially once someone recognized him from the holonet. Rex faded further in the background. Skywalker loved the spotlight, much as he argued otherwise. The Jedi General posed for a number of holos and then pulled himself free. He gazed around in puzzlement. "Rex? Where are you?"

"Here, General," Rex slipped back forward out of the crowd and fell into place again beside Skywalker. They resumed their walking. "Nicely done."

Skywalker made a dismissive gesture with one hand. Such things were nothing to him, of course. "Where were we, Rex?"

"You will be remitting me into the custody of Commander Tano, sir, while you attend a meeting with Senator Amidala."

"Right. I'm not sure how long my meeting will-" he frowned. "I didn't say my meeting was with Senator Amidala."

"Very good, sir."

Anakin clapped him on the shoulder. "You're a good man, Rex."

Rex had no response to that comment, so they

walked on toward the Temple in companionable silence.

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