The rest of the council hearing turned into more strategy meeting than a disciplinary session. This was fine by Rex. He'd rather talk strategy any day than be called out for behavioral infractions.
General Windu was a hell of a tactician when he wasn't riled up, although he seemed intent on testing Rex at every turn.
"Captain, what do you do know about Clak'Dor VII?"
Rex would have rolled his eyes under his bucket, except his gear had yet to be returned to him. Galactic geography was a subject all cadets had mastered by year four.
"It's in the Colu sector, General, homeworld of the Bith. The planet has been a longtime ally of the Galactic Republic and its strategic value lies in its' location on the Rimma Trade Route."
Windu tilted his head slightly as if giving Rex the slightest bit of approval. "That is correct, Captain, although their status as one of our allies is now in jeopardy. The planet is in danger of falling to the Separatists."
Falling.
Rex had heard the term used loosely throughout the war depending upon the speaker. Sometimes "falling" meant Grievous and several Lucrehulk-class were in orbit around a planet offering "protection." But, sometimes "falling" meant a planet, or a system had enough of the Republic and wanted to make a go of it on their own.
The first scenario Rex understood readily enough; it was the second scenario that bothered Rex. He wasn't a di'kut. He understand there were a lot of credits at stake with strategically located like Bith. But, still, shouldn't the people of Clak'Dor VII be entitled to self-governance free of the Republic?
He exhaled slowly through his teeth trying to quiet his thoughts. He couldn't be thinking this way in a room full of Jedi. What the fek did he know of freedom anyway? He was a piece of property owned by the Republic.
He startled slightly at the unexpected presence of General Koon by his side. Wolffe had spoken favorably of his General many times, and his brother rarely praised anyone, let alone non-clones.
Half of the General's face was obscured by his breather, but he gave Rex a long searching look. "You alright, Captain?" he asked, his voice rumbling softly out from under the breather.
"Yes, General."
General Koon's eyes flickered over to where Windu, Skywalker, and Kenobi were bent over a hologram, engaged in a "lively" discussion of mission timing. He turned his attention back to Rex. "It's alright not to be okay, sometimes."
Rex's brow furrowed in puzzlement, trying to figure out the point of this conversation. How was he supposed to respond to such a statement? It was never okay not to be okay when you were a clone. "Sir?"
"Wolffe and I talk about more than strategy," his eyes quickly flicked toward Windu, who was still deeply engaged in what was now turning into an escalating argument with Skywalker. "We also sometimes debate the merits of the war. Since we'll be on a campaign together, you should join us sometimes. I would very much like to hear your perspective on the matter."
Rex stared at him, gobsmacked that Wolffe was debating the merits of the war. No, he shouldn't be, as that is the type of bold bullshit his brother would do. But, where did the fine line between treason and loyalty lay when asking such questions? As a soldier of the Republic, wasn't Rex just supposed to follow orders and not ask any of these questions? (And, why did he inwardly cringe at the thought as if he were at war with himself?)
The General mercifully spared him from having to come up with a response. "But, that is a discussion for another day. Come, let us break up their lively discussion before it comes to blows."
Was he joking? Did that happen? Jedi didn't actually do that, did they?
But, General Koon had already moved off to interject himself into the conversation, his voice adding a calming presence. Rex let them have at it for a few moments. He regrouped with Cody, who was quietly working on a holo display moving around sims of large deployments.
Rex stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him, and they worked together, coming up with a deployment plan.
"What was that all about?" Cody's eyes flicked toward General Koon.
Rex snorted quietly under his breath. "I think Wolffe is rubbing off on his Jedi. The General is encouraging me to be a freethinker."
Cody barked out a laugh and then covered it up with a discrete cough behind his hand. Kenobi arched an eyebrow at him, but Cody gave him a look that was all innocence and quickly swiped a few more holo displays around. Kenobi quirked his lips but turned his attention back to his own conversation.
Rex rolled his eyes and corrected their display, which was now askew. "Really, Codes? You want to deploy our troops into a black hole? That is some free thinking."
"No, free thinking is what got us locked up in the RMB." He reached for the displays again, but Rex stopped him before he sent their troops into a black hole again. "You need to follow regs to the letter from now on. Both of us do. We were lucky to get off with a slap on the wrist, but we don't have the luxury of being freethinkers."
"I know." He did know and he hated it. He'd gotten used to doing a lot of free thinking while on Ando and planning the mission to Darkknell. Conventional thinking hadn't freed those men, or the Jedi trapped along with them. But, Cody was right. Free thinking in clones was punished. Severely.
"Cody, Rex, if you're done over there, we're ready to discuss troop deployments."
"Yes, General," Rex responded, "we've examined the deployments from every angle to ensure there are no holes in our strategy."
"Very good," Kenobi acknowledged, with a very Jedi tilt of his head.
"Smart ass," Cody muttered as they walked in step over to the others.
General Windu battered both Cody and Rex with questions. It wasn't on the level of Alpha-17, but it was an intense discussion. Ponds had some serious gett'se* to put up with this man on a daily basis.
Cody was flawless, as always, and Rex answered every question put to him. He also offered up numerous suggestions without being asked. He'd learned a great deal from the myriad of troopers on Ando. They had so many different fighting styles. He was pressed repeatedly about the battle-readiness of the 501st. This was a difficult topic, but he answered truthfully. His men were underweight. Many had been injured during their imprisonment, and more had been injured during the Battle of Darkknell. While locked in their prison cells, the men had no opportunity to engage in proper training. But, the men of the 501st and 212th had pulled off a miracle in the dungeons of Darkknell, fighting with no armor and the barest of weapons. But, he had confidence in his men. "They'll be ready to deploy."
"It appears they'll have to be. It appears we will have to use the 501st and 212th." His tone implied he was resorting to his last choice legions in the GAR.
Cody bristled next to him but stayed quiet.
Rex couldn't let the slight pass. "With all due respect, General, our men are the finest in the Grand Army. They've been through a trial as of late, but they will be ready. But, we will need resources."
Before Windu could engage again, likely with another slight against their Legions, Wolffe's General jumped in. "What do you need?"
"Armor. Weapons. Our troopers lost their kit at Darknell. We have only a dozen men with armor, including ourselves," Rex immediately supplied, already composing a more detailed list in his head.
"What was lost, shall be replaced. And, soon," assured the Wolfpack General.
Rex lifted an eyebrow in surprise and flicked a glance toward Cody. Were they finally getting their Phase II kit? "And, our men need time to train. Even if it's en route to the Bith System, they need a training space and a gym three times the size of what they would normally get. They all need to add muscle."
"Extra food supplements," chimed in Cody, "all they can eat, and high calorie. Their nutrient intake is to be supervised by our own medics. If they say we need more, we get it. The mess hall is to be kept open at all hours so our men can regain the weight they have lost."
"Done," General Plo Koon promised, jumping in before Generals Windu or Yoda could say anything.
"We best adjourn this meeting, then," General Windu said, shooting a look at his Wolffe's General, "before we overpromise anything we cannot deliver." He glanced down at his chrono. "Captain Rex and Commander Cody, head to your barracks. Armorers should already be on-site."
Rex shot Cody a quick look, but his brother was all perfect polish, looking straight ahead. Rex wanted to roll his eyes again. Cody was taking this not-getting-in-trouble-again bit very seriously. Rex just wanted to get out of the Temple and back to the barracks. Armor fitting was a big deal to clones and he wanted to be there to see his brothers' reactions.
"It's settled, then," General Windu continued on, "all troopers of the 501st and 212th must pass their medical exams to be deployed. But, we will consider your Legions a part of this mission." Rex's enthusiasm for the armor fitting diminished as he thought of some of his more severely injured men. He already had a mental list of those who may not pass medical. Kriff. He was not going to leave any man behind. He would figure out a way to keep them in the Legion.
For the ones who could pass their physicals, he had a training regimen already in mind. The men would be in training all day, switching stations, as their health and abilities allowed, just as they'd done on Ando. He would have these men ready by the time they deployed. They would begin as soon as the men were kitted out, which should be later today by the sounds of it. Much of the training might have to be done en route depending upon when they deployed.
"Captain," General Windu shot him a look of annoyance as if he'd called his name once already.
Cody shot him a sharp disciplinary look.
Oh, come on, Cody, not you, too.
"Sir," he said, straightening up sharply, trying to match Cody's stiffness.
"There is one more matter to discuss," the Jedi Master said. Something about his tone set Rex on edge. He glanced down at his datapad as if it contained some official authority allowing him to take action. "Due to your mysterious disappearance and seeming inability to adequately account for your time, we are keeping accountability measures in place."
Rex sucked in a breath.
What the fek does that mean?
The Jedi Master motioned to the Temple Guards.
Commander Appo walked in and saluted the Jedi Masters so perfectly it set Rex's teeth on edge. "Generals." He fixed his gaze firmly on General Windu.
Windu dipped his chin. He didn't seem either impressed or otherwise with Appo. Rex had noticed Appo brought out that reaction in almost everyone. "Commander Appo."
General Windu turned his attention back to Rex. "Commander Appo will be staying on in his role as Commander of the 501st Legion permanently," he stressed the word just enough to make it clear that while Rex was still a Captain, this essentially meant a demotion for him. "You will report to Commander Appo who will supervise all of your daily activities. He will provide regular reports to General Skywalker and the Jedi Council- meaning me."
Rex froze.
The news that Appo was staying on as Commander was just a formality. He knew the fekker was staying there. But, Rex tried to suck in a breath but found he couldn't. His every move would now be monitored by both fekkin' Appo and the Council?!
Appo avoided making eye contact with Rex and stood rigidly at attention in front of the Council.
Rex's vision blurred and then refocused. He caught sight of the traffic outside the giant bay windows.
Breathe, he forcibly reminded himself. Ebb and flow. Ebb and flow.
It was much harder somehow with Appo standing beside him. But, his sense of calm returned.
"You are both dismissed."
Windu's words reached him as if through a fog.
"Sir," Rex and Appo said in unison.
Rex said the words automatically, out of habit. Cody was left behind in the Council Chambers, presumably for a higher-level strategy discussion. Rex and Appo exited to the ante-chamber. Fox was still waiting there, which was eerily similar to the first time Rex had exited the Chambers and been taken away to the RMB. Rex stared at him. He suddenly wondered how much time Fox had to spend waiting for people to come out of meetings.
Fox's job must really suck. The Guard commander gestured one of his shock troopers forward. He was carrying a small satchel. "I was instructed by the Jedi Generals to return this to you."
Rex opened up the satchel curiously. It smelled... familiar. "My kit," he said, peering in and seeing his helmet, belt with twin blasters, and gauntlet. He tugged out the items one at a time, quickly putting the armor pieces back on with practiced ease. He tugged on his gauntlets and settled his belt low on his hips. He spun each of his blasters around once just to feel the heft in his palm before tucking them into their holsters. He slid his bucket on reverently, feeling immensely relieved as it rested back snugly into place. He was whole again.
"Thank you," he said to Fox.
Fox shrugged. "Just following orders, as always."
"Somehow I doubt-" Rex cut himself off, suddenly remembering Appo was there.
Appo gave him a sideways look.
"Thank you, Fox," Rex said instead. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope to not be seeing you anytime soon."
Fox huffed lightly in amusement. "Good luck, Rex."
"Right, well, uh, thanks for the hospitality."
Fox snorted. "Glad you enjoyed it. Keep your shebs out of trouble." He slapped Rex on the pauldron. Hard. But, there as a lot of affection in the gesture.
"Captain," Appo prompted, already headed over toward the lift.
Rex sighed, wanting to converse a bit more with Fox. Not even sure why he wanted to converse a bit more with Fox. Maybe because he didn't want to spend time with Appo.
"Eh..." Rex started. Fek, he realized wasn't good with the words thing. There was more he wanted to say to Fox. Thank you for putting me in the same cell as Cody. Thank you for keeping my brother alive. Thank you for keeping us informed.
"Captain," there was a hint of annoyance in Appo's voice as he waited in the lift, holding the doors open, "we are short on time."
"You better go," Fox gestured with his bucketed head toward Appo, "your commander is waiting."
"He sure as fek is, isn't he?" Rex muttered softly. Fox gave him one more good-natured slap, but this time pushed him toward the lift where Appo was waiting for him. Rex opened a private line to Fox and let out a string of profanities that started the same letter as Fox's first name.
Fox snorted in amusement and cut off their connection.
Rex glanced over at Appo and left his bucket muted while he stretched out his profane vocabulary to encompass commanders who should not have been promoted. Ah. It was good to have his full kit again.
# # #
Rex and Appo walked through the corridors of the Jedi Temple and out into the streets of Coruscant, the tense silence stretching out between them. The tension grew until it became a living tangible thing like a cord stretched taught between them.
"Hold up, Rex," Appo said, halting in the shadow of one of the giant columns at the top of the stairs near the Temple entrance.
Rex didn't want to hold up. He didn't want any delay. He wanted to get back to the barracks. There was new armor coming. And, men to get trained. And, a thousand other things to do. He had no time for Appo.
Appo huffed out a grunt of frustration and slid off his helmet. He met Rex's eyes, staring intensely into his visor.
Rex relented and slid off his helmet. "What?!"
"Cut the attitude, Rex. We have too much to do for us to be fighting."
Rex sucked in a deep breath. Maybe he was a little out of line. And, Appo was... right. "Sorry. Guess I'm still adjusting to the new order of things."
Appo tilted his head to the side. "Fair enough. I wanted to speak to you before we head to the barracks."
Rex eased up a bit, tucking his helmet under his arm. "Go on. You have my attention." He glanced around him. "This is as good a place as any." And, as bad a place. He had never particularly liked the Jedi Temple. Something about it gave him bad vibes. Like the place was cursed.
"I know you don't care for me, Rex."
Rex studied Appo with a frown. What was his point? He was about to demand as much, but Appo held up a hand. "Let me finish," Appo's voice was steady and filled with a calm Rex didn't remember being there before. Gah. Before Appo had been locked up with Ahsoka. Of course, he'd learned a thing or two. Ahsoka had that effect on people. She brought out the best in everyone. He tried to focus on his new commander's words, and not think about him sharing a cell with Ahsoka. "You don't have to like me. I don't expect us to be friends. But, you will respect me and my authority." Appo blew out an exasperated sigh. "I... didn't ask for this posting. It would not have been my first choice. Or, my second. But, you were suddenly injured and sent away and... I don't think I can ever have the same relationship with the men as you. They have a hero worship of you that I can never achieve. I am not here to replace you. We both have a job to do. We lost too many at Kaz'haria. I know that's my fault. I know you blame me. I know all of you blame me. I accept full responsibility and I can't bring those men back, but I want to do better. I need your help to be better. We have to work together so we can get our vode through these battles. There's no way I can do all of it on my own. Please, Rex. For the good of the 501st."
Appo was asking for his help?
For the good of the 501st.
Rex didn't want to like anything about this vod. But, he made a compelling case. And, he was being so fekkin' humble about messing up at Kaz'haria.
"Alright," he agreed, "for the good of the 501st."
"For what it's worth, I'll try to stay out of your way as much as possible."
Rex smiled at this and clasped arms with Appo.
Maybe things would be OK. "I can live with that. Wait..." his mind flashed back to the Council meeting, and he quickly released their clasped arms. "What about those reports you are supposed to send to General Windu?"
"Don't give me anything to report on, and there won't be anything in those reports."
"You know, Appo, there is such a thing as brothers first."
"And, we also have our duty to the Republic first. Don't make me choose."
"The Republic left you and all those other men locked up to die! What choice are we talking about here, Appo? It was your brothers who got you out of there, not the fekkin' Republic."
Appo closed his eyes. "I don't want to talk about what happened at Darkknell."
"You don't want to talk about it?! That's your way of dealing with it? Appo-"
A group of older Jedi came out of a side passage followed by an energetic group of tiny padawans. They pointed and waved to the two command clone clones, many of the little Jedi so small they were missing teeth and still had baby fat in their cheeks. Rex was suddenly struck by how much they remembered him of little cadets, and yet how different their upbringing was from his own on sterile Kamino.
"You look like me!" A little blonde-haired boy was tugged on Rex's pauldron. He had the same crisp Couriscanti accent as Cody's Jedi.
"Sors, don't bother the clone troopers," admonished one of his Jedi handlers.
"But, but, this is Captain Rex!"
The other padawans stopped and gaped at Rex in open-mouthed wonder. "Oooooh... ahhhhhh..."
"Yes, well, I'm sure the Captain is a very busy man. Sorry, to have bothered you, Captain, and... uh... your... uh... associate. Good day to you both. Come along, now, Sors."
Rex and Appo watched the cadre of mini-Jedi disappear out of sight around the corner. All of the energy from their fight was gone. Appo glanced at his chrono. "The armorers are due to arrive at the barracks. We should go." He led the way out of the Temple. "Even the Jedi worship you..." Appo grumbled.
"OK, that is not true."
"You don't even realize how good you have it, Rex," Appo muttered. "You have no idea."
"Appo, it's not that simple."
"I'm sure it's not. But, for the record, the Republic does come first, and you best get your priorities straight. You can call me Appo when it's just us command staff, but around the men, call me Commander."
Rex rolled his eyes under his helmet. He had a commander now. OK, he had two commanders now. One that meant everything to him. And, one who could take everything away from him.
## #
*- Mando'a translation: "balls"
Sors Bandeam is the little one that said: "Master Skywalker, there's too many of them. What are we going to do?"