Dear Reader, Thanks again to my wonderful reviewers, and my first review from TeeterTotter. You are all keeping me motivated! Now, maybe it's the Chesterton in me, but there's a bit of description in this one! I like to describe to places, and the Taber is a mixture between the beautiful Hindu temple, Meenakshi Amman, in Madurai; and just about any Eastern Orthodox church around! I also give a shout-out to the Diathim (Angel) episode. Lastly, in case you are not aware, I absolutely am not a fan of what they've done with Rex in Rebels. I just don't see how this fit, stunning soldier turns into a fat, slovenly . . . full size version of one of the 7 dwarves! So, I kind of take a shot at that in this chapter! Not too blatant, but all in good fun. Enjoy! Peace, CS.

Chapter 21 Approaching Daylight

"So at last the crow said he would go. After many days, he began to see a little light ahead of him, and then more and more until at last the sky was full of sunshine. Now he was able to stop and rest, and he looked all about to see where the light was coming from; for this was a strange country to him."

The Crow and the Daylight
Richard Adams (from The Unbroken Web, a collection of folk tales)

"What do you think is happening up there?" Pitch asked, getting to his feet and walking to stand at the mouth of the passageway through which he and his brothers had come. They were now in a large cavern of underground pools and bizarre rock formations, with many tunnels leading off in all directions. Even the passage that had led them to this place had branches and off-shoots.

Had it not been for their guide, Au-Sinti, they would have had no idea where to go and would likely have gotten lost in the labyrinth.

"They must still be searching," Rex replied. He turned to the sister who had brought him to join the others. Her name was Anaide, and like the Doma, she was calm and disciplined. "I don't like being down here and not knowing what's going on. Can't you go up and see what's happening?"

"I do not want to risk them seeing me coming out of one of the openings," Anaide replied.

"How will we know when it's safe to go back up?" Rex asked.

"Someone will come down and let us know."

Rex stood up and paced a few steps. "I wish I was in communication with my men."

"That is understandable," Anaide said. "If you truly want to speak with them and be sure they are safe, I can lead you through the passages, but it is a long way if they entered at the Seiba Tops."

"No, I think it's better to stay here," Rex replied.

Anaide rose and stood behind him, slightly off to one side. "If I may, Captain Rex . . . you look like you are in pain."

"Eh, I just . . . all the running around has aggravated my ribs, but it's nothing I can't handle."

"Perhaps you should sit down and rest," she suggested. "There is nothing to do now but wait. You should take advantage of this time."

"She's right, Captain." This came from Jesse who now joined them. "You do look pretty rough, Sir."

"If I took a rest every time you or someone else told me I looked rough, I'd spend my entire life in bed," Rex retorted, though with no animus. "It's just all the movement. Once this is over, I'll rest then."

"Will you at least let me take a look and make sure there is no fresh bruising?" Anaide asked.

"That's fine," Rex said. He gave her his side, and she carefully lifted the long tunic.

She pressed her hand gently against his ribs, and he flinched away from her touch. "That hurts you?"

"A little."

"I can see some new bruising. It does not look too serious, but you must be cautious, Captain. You do not want to puncture a lung," Anaide warned.

"Huh, that won't matter if we're discovered," Rex said.

At that moment, a call came from down the passageway.

"It's Fels Au-Finz! I'm coming in!"

Au-Sinti moved to join Pitch at the mouth of the passageway.

"Come!"

A few seconds later, Au-Finz entered the cavern. "The Separatists have left."

"Are you certain?" Au-Sinti asked.

"The Doma sent word. Fels Au-Gehen told me to come down and tell you."

Rex drew away from Anaide's examination. "Is everyone safe?"

"As far as I know—" Au-Felz began.

"Kix?" This interruption came from Jesse, Hardcase at his side.

"He is safe."

Jesse blew out a breath of relief. Behind him, Hardcase reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Let's get up there." Rex was already heading up the passageway, pausing only long enough to allow Au-Felz to go ahead of him to lead the way.

Coming up into the concealed entrance inside the west wing of the healing rooms, Rex came almost immediately face-to-face with Fels Au-Gehen. At the same time, he could feel the familiar vibration of ion-powered engines.

"That would be your enemy departing," Au-Gehen stated. "It appears the Creator has been gracious."

Rex had no idea how to respond to such a statement, so he fell back on simple gratitude and nodded his appreciation. "I need to get to the Seiba Tops, make sure everyone else is okay."

"Captain, the Separatists have left without incident," Au-Gehen told him. "The Doma herself sent word that it was safe for you and your men to come up from the grottoes."

"Yes, but, uh, I like to check things out for myself. I'll feel better when I see that all my men are safe and accounted for," Rex replied. He turned to face the men who had come up behind him from the tunnels. "Sempe, Jesse, Hardcase, come with me." A pause. "Just in case we run into trouble." For Rex was not convinced anything was safe until he ascertained it himself.

He'd known when he'd summoned Jesse and Hardcase to go with him that he was pulling them away from where they wanted to be, but he also knew them well enough to know they would never disobey him – not even for one of their squad mates. One of the things Rex was best known for in the GAR was his ability to gain the unwavering loyalty of his men, to the point where they would follow his lead, not out of duty, but out of trust, respect, and a sort of bond that in many ways transcended the bond between squad mates. Rex simply had a charisma that he could turn on at will to draw people to him, and he knew it. Where it had come from and how it had developed, he had no idea. He only knew that he was meant to be out in front, meant to lead men, and he took great care to ensure his men's trust and faith was well-earned.

He had proof now as Jesse and Hardcase, without even an instant of hesitation, gave sharp nods of acknowledgment.

"I will come with you, as well," Au-Sinti offered.

The five of them set off at a pace that quickly reminded Rex that he was once again unwell, so he slowed it down to ward off any concern or warning that Jesse might be considering; for Jesse very often found himself playing the role of . . . perhaps not caretaker, but as second-in-command, he did feel a responsibility to keep an eye out for his captain's safety. And Rex did have a tendency to rush ahead full-steam into every dangerous situation that presented itself. It wasn't foolhardiness; rather, it was supreme confidence in his own abilities.

It took thirty minutes for them to reach the Seiba Tops. No clones were to be seen, so Rex led the way around the back to the entrance into the grottoes. They went inside and after a hundred meters, they found the way blocked by a cave-in.

"When did this happen?" Rex said, not expecting an answer. "Were they even able to get into the grottoes?"

"There is another entrance nearby," Au-Sinti said. "I will take you there."

They had gone but a few paces when the sound of voices met their ears.

"That's Sixer!" Sempe burst out with obvious joy, for Sixer was one of his squad mates – and his best friend. "Up there!"

On the path ahead of them, through the trees, there came the rest of the contingent, Sixer leading the way.

"Is everyone accounted for?" Rex asked, all business.

"Yes, Captain." Sixer snapped, coming to attention.

"Everyone's alright?"

"Yes, Captain. The droids started to come down into the grotto, so Au-Hielik blew the ceiling and blocked the way," Sixer replied, sounding rather excited. "It was fantastic."

Rex raised a dubious brow, but he was glad to hear Sixer's enthusiasm.

"What about our men in the hospital?" Sixer went on.

"Everyone's alright," Rex replied. "And it looks like the Separatists are gone. How did you know it was safe to come out?"

Au-Ogusta now stepped forward from the back of the group. "As soon as the patrol I was escorting got back to the gate and it became clear they were leaving, the Doma sent me here. I knew the tunnel was blown – I was with that patrol. So, I went to the next entrance."

"Very good," Rex replied. "Everyone, go to the Seiba Tops and wait for me. I don't want anyone going off anywhere." He looked to Au-Ogusta. "Where is the Doma?"

"She was at the gate when I left. I imagine she would head to the Taber to offer thanks."

Rex nodded. "Then that's where I'm headed."

He had not stepped foot inside the Taber before. He'd only looked upon its imposing exterior, and he admittedly was somewhat reluctant to cross the threshold. From all he'd heard, this was supposed to be a holy place, and holiness did not play a role in Rex's life.

Still, if the Doma were inside, he would have to go in, as well; for he was impatient and had no intention of waiting.

The entrance at which he found himself was in the center of the façade. Two massive wooden doors at least as tall as a fully erect Octuptarra Walker, adorned with the carved images of scenes from nature, and overlaid with gold leaf, stood already open. Passing through, Rex found himself in a sort of vestibule, stretching off a hundred meters to both his left and his right, while reaching only fifteen meters across. Directly opposite him stood another much smaller set of double doors, situated in wall of sculpted stone. Here, the images were of people, all standing in one long line that stretched as far as Rex could see in the dim light. The vestibule was lit with many thousands of small different-colored glass lanterns hanging at the end of lengthy chains from the lofty ceiling. It was a very beautiful place, and an aroma of exotic scents hung in the air like some kind of magic spell.

But it was not until he had opened the door to the main sanctuary that Rex felt as if he had truly entered another world.

The place in which he now found himself could not be called a room anymore than an escape pod could be called a ship. The dimensions alone set him back on his heels, gazing around himself in wonder. He judged the area he was looked at right now to be roughly square, two hundred meters across. The highest point of the ceiling, which rose in an inverted step, had to be at least a hundred and fifty meters high. Each step must have had opening on the sides, because there was light streaming in and falling in slants to the floor below.

It was this light that revealed the most incredible and impressive aspects of the main sanctuary. The floor was inlaid with the most intricate mosaics of animals. Animal after animal after animal. Rex thought he recognized some, but there were so many—and they were so fanciful—that he could not be sure if they were depictions of actual creatures or the imaginings of a brilliant mind. Even beneath the rows of benches—hundreds upon hundreds of benches—the animals pranced, leaped, bounded, and even appeared to be dancing in their brightly tinted bits of glass.

The mosaics gave way to stunning paintings, saturated with color, where the floor met the walls. But the images were still mainly those of animals, though now human figures began to appear, clothed in flowing garments and serenity. Further up the walls, as far as Rex could see, other beings took the place of the humans – although the animals still remained. These beings were filamentary in the way the light and dark took turns marking their image, ethereal in their visages, and awe-inspiring in their stature. Rex was immediately put in mind of the Diathim of Iego – often called Angels – and he could not help but wonder if these images were representative of the Diathim.

Or perhaps real angels.

"What?" He chastised himself immediately. "Okay, you're letting the sheer immensity of this place get to you. You came here to find the Doma. Get on with it."

But the awe was not so easily dispelled. Moving slowly into the sanctuary, he noticed more of the hanging lights and many hundreds of floor sconces, holding what had to be a hundred candles each. There were statues—many, many statues. And like the mosaics and paintings, Rex recognized some of the figures – or at least the species in the figures.

Everywhere along the outer wall of the sanctuary were alcoves and apses. In some of them, Rex could see more statues and paintings, benches and altars. And in many, there were brothers or sisters or both praying.

In the main sanctuary several hundred brothers and sisters were gathered on benches before what was clearly the high altar. Rex could hear them chanting quietly. He skirted around the outer aisle, looking for Doma Maree's face among them; but he did not see her. Coming to the juncture between the main sanctuary and one of the side apses, he saw the Doma kneeling alone before a statue of a robed and veiled figure. The statue was surrounded by flowers and candles. It was both an inviting and forbidding scene: inviting for reasons Rex could not explain; forbidding because it was simply not a part of his own belief system. The piousness of it all was the same reason why he'd found the Doma so intimidating and unapproachable to begin with.

Admittedly, he still felt much the same way. But there was something he had to do, and no amount of wonderment or discomfort would stop him. He'd managed very well head-to-head with her only a few hours earlier. There was no reason to expect this would be any different.

He sat down several rows behind her and waited in silence until she sat back on the bench. He got up and sat down beside her.

"Captain," she said, regarding him with a warm grin.

"I'm sorry if I'm disturbing your prayer," Rex apologized.

"You're not. I just finished."

Rex found himself staring at the statue, wondering what the face looked like beneath the veil. Either way, it gave him a way out of looking at the Doma directly.

After nearly a minute during which Rex said nothing, Maree spoke.

"You came to find me, Captain?"

"Yes," Rex replied. "I want to say something to you."

"I am listening."

Rex chose his words carefully. "You risked your life—and every life within these walls—for us." He paused. "I don't understand why."

After a lengthy hesitation, Maree asked, "Then have you learned nothing about the Verviens and the Austeniens in your time here?"

"Apparently, not nearly as much as I should have," Rex answered.

"As I explained to Commander Cody when you all first came here, we believe that healing and protecting you is the least we can do for all you have done to protect us," Maree told him.

"But that doesn't explain why," Rex replied. "There were thousands of lives at stake, and you chose us over those lives. I have to say, that . . . that wasn't a . . . a logical choice."

"I find it perfectly logical," Maree disagreed. "I am not in the business of deciding which lives are more valuable than others. The goal is to save as many lives as possible."

"What would you have done if they had found us?"

"We would have fought to protect you."

"Fought? With what? I thought you were peaceful orders." Rex could not hide his skepticism.

"We are peaceful, Captain. But we will also defend ourselves when necessary. And those who need our help." A pause, after which she said with affected superiority. "Plus, I didn't want all our hard work to go to waste. We did not pluck you out of the desert and save your lives just to see you die at the hands of the enemy."

Rex felt the corner of his mouth lift in an involuntary grin. "You, uh, have no problem speaking your mind, do you?"

"An attribute I believe we share, although you've been as tight-lipped as a cloistered Hanabak since the day you got here," the Doma volleyed.

"I like to maintain my professional decorum," Rex returned with a certain swagger.

"I did not realize grumping about was considered professional conduct in the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic," Maree shot back.

"Grumping about? I don't even know what that means."

"I think you do."

"Do you mean to say I'm grumpy?"

"I've told you as much . . . several times."

Rex scowled, perplexed. He'd never been called grumpy before. In fact, he considered himself the farthest thing from it. "Maybe you've mistaken my concern for my men as grumpiness."

"That is a possibility," she conceded. "In any event, is that what you came here to tell me? That you don't understand my actions?"

"Part of it," Rex replied.

He looked away in what Maree thought was a measure of distress – or at least discomfort.

"We can't stay here," he said quietly.

Maree looked somewhat taken aback by this pronouncement. "What do you mean you can't stay?"

"We're putting too many lives in danger," Rex replied. "That goes against everything we've ever been taught. We exist to win wars and preserve innocent lives, not to put them at risk."

"You didn't ask us to do this, Captain," Maree said. "We chose to take you in. When you told us the Separatists had shot you down and might be looking for you, we could have sent you away then. But that is not our way. We have made our choice. You have not forced us to help you; we do it because it is what the Creator would want us to do."

"I know you chose to help us, but—"

"What about those men who are still too injured to travel? You have at least three who are in no condition to venture back out into the desert," the Doma interrupted. "Not only that, but where would you go? The Separatist admiral said they were going to search the cities. If you go there, they may find you. You can't go wandering endlessly in the desert. Captain, surely you see that it makes no sense to leave here. The danger has passed. The Separatists have gone."

"They could come back," Rex stated.

"And if they do, we will continue to protect you." The Doma reached out and touched his arm. "Captain Rex, I must insist . . . it would be more dangerous for you to leave here than to stay."

"More dangerous for us, but you would all be safer," Rex corrected.

Maree's expression took on a hint of horror. "By the Creater, you're not thinking of handing yourselves over to the Separatists, are you?"

"No, but—"

She cut him off, and now the horror gave way to challenge. "Then let me put it this way, Captain Rex. If I have to lock you all away to keep you safe until the Republic comes to get you, I'll find a way to do it."

Her words surprised Rex and he was speechless.

"You need to trust that Commander Cody will get through and bring help. In the meantime, stay with us," She looked him straight in the eye. "Captain, I want you all to stay."

Rex stared back at her, and he knew she was right. If he and his men left, it was likely they would be discovered by the enemy. On top of that, he would have to leave Kix, Puzzle, and Keeper behind. Staying at the Monastica was not what he wanted to do, but he could not deny the truth: it was safer to remain.

"Alright," he finally agreed. "I still don't feel right about it, but . . . we'll stay."

Maree smiled and nodded. "You don't need to feel guilty about it, Captain. Our orders teach the importance of sacrifice, just as I'm sure you and your men are taught it." She paused and changed the subject. "Now . . . you've reinjured yourself. Let's go to the healing houses, so they can take a look at you."

"You could tell that just from touching me?"

"And watching you earlier when we were running," she quipped, squeezing his arm. "I do have the gift of observation, as well."

She got to her feet, and Rex stood up with her.

Before leaving, he looked towards the statue. "Is that your god?"

"One of his messengers," Maree replied. "A protector."

Rex nodded. "Then thank him for me."

"He already knows."

As they began walking, only then did Rex notice . . .

The floor wherever the Doma stepped, the animal mosaics beneath her feet—no, he must be imagining things—they became infused with light and . . . movement. The images were moving. And as the Doma passed, they returned to glass, but—but not in the same poses they had been before.

"No, no, you're . . . the pain and the incense and this place. You're hallucinating."

Only, he knew he wasn't.

"Half a day in the cold field should fix this up," Au-Linus decided. "There is only minimal fraying and some minor bleeding. Yes, we'll keep you overnight."

Rex grumbled something unintelligible.

"I'll send the sisters in to set up the field," Au-Linus continued. Then, with a wry expression, he added, "And no more athletics, Captain. You might want to try just . . . walking for the next few days."

"I didn't really have a choice," Rex replied.

"No, because there were no other able-bodied men around to do all the running and warning," the healer chided with a grin. "I'm not a fool, Captain. I've seen what kind of man you are. I suppose if you end up staying here for any length of time, I should expect to see you in here, what, at least once a week?"

Now it was Rex's chance to return the grin. "Or more."

Au-Linus chuckled and shook his head. "The sisters will be in in a moment." With that, he departed.

"You may stand a chance at replacing Echo as their favorite patient," the Doma proposed.

"I thought I was their least favorite."

"You tend to grow on people, Captain," she replied. "Although after watching you walk over here, I have to agree with Au-Linus. You're lucky it wasn't more serious, and . . . there were others who could have done that job for you."

"Yes, and without any means of relaying that information back to me," Rex countered. "I needed to know what was going on. I'm their captain."

"And as their captain . . . " Maree reached into the folds of her frock and withdrew a small, metallic device. She handed it to him.

"What is this?"

"General Vrehnka gave it to me. It's a communicator. He told me to use if to contact him if any clones should appear." She watched him turn it over several times; and when she held out her hand, he gave it back to her.

She dropped it onto the floor and, in a very unlady-like manner, stomped it beneath her sandaled heel, crushing it into pieces.

Rex looked at the broken communicator then up at the Doma. "I was going to try and recalibrate that to contact the fleet."

Maree stared blankly at him, speechless. For Rex's part, it might just be the most satisfaction he'd felt since coming here.

"I—I'm sorry, Captain, I didn't—"

"I'm kidding."

"What?"

"All of the Separatist communications hardware has special fail-safes, so that if they're tampered with, they send an alert to the base station. There's no way for us to reconfigure those devices." He smiled impishly. "I was only joking."

Maree raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think you knew how to joke, Captain. I'm glad to see I was wrong." A pause. "Although people who trick others . . . always need to be watching their backs."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning you are fortunate that I am a holy woman."

Holy or not, there was no mistaking the mischievous challenge in her voice.

"Uh, don't forget . . . I'm still injured," Rex begged off.

"No, I won't forget," the Doma smiled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Captain . . . I have many other minds to put at ease after our unexpected visitors today." She headed for the door, stopping suddenly and turning back to face him once more. "Oh, and since it looks like you might, in fact, be here a bit longer, I am formally extending an invitation to you and your men to join us in celebrating the Me'ente Loge festival."

"You've mentioned that a few times," Rex replied. "Before I accept your invitation, tell me what it is."

Maree looked pleased that he would inquire. "Me'Ente Loge is the Creator's greatest messenger. It was his statue that I was praying before in the Taber. I was thanking him for delivering us safely from the Separatists. On the 478th day of every year, we celebrate his great victory over evil."

Rex tilted his head to one side. "Evil still exists."

"Yes," the Doma agreed. "And he continues to defeat it, just as we must continue to defeat it."

"Then what great victory was it that didn't . . . vanquish the enemy?" Rex challenged.

Maree smiled at him. "Do you want to spend your convalescence receiving a lesson on our theology?"

"Maybe not right now, but I am curious about what you believe—and why you believe it," Rex replied.

"I am always thrilled to speak of the Creator. Any time you wish, Captain, just say the word."

"About this festival . . . is it suitable for me and my brothers?"

"Suitable?"

"As . . . non-believers, is it something we can . . . I mean, what does it involve?"

"Come and see. I would not invite you if I did not feel it was something in which you and your men could partake," Maree replied.

"You're not going to try and convert us, are you?" Rex asked with a cheeky glint in his eye.

Maree narrowed her eyes. "With everything I have."

"Really?" Rex wasn't sure whether she was joking or not.

"You have two days to get better, Captain," the Doma said. "After that, I'll expect to see you at the festivities."

After she had left, Rex smiled to himself.

"I'll expect to see you at the festivities."

There was something intriguing about the prospect.

Even more, it occurred to him that he had just had a fairly pleasant exchange with the woman. And she had appeared to enjoy trading jibes with him. Yes, that seemed to be the lay of it.

Perhaps she wasn't so intimidating, after all.

Two days suddenly seemed like a very long time.

Okay, yes, they're warming up to each other a bit.

And as for the animal mosaics, I'm not sure why I wrote them coming to life. That was not part of my original story, but I love animals so much, and I wanted the imagery.