REX MEETS THE KID

Andrew cried himself to sleep that night.

He turned the tag over in his fingers over and over - realizing Jabba had won. Putting the fear of defying in him so greatly that a lifetime of serving him seemed better. He knew that Grell had promised help was on its way, but even he couldn't be too sure.

Now, two days later his gilded cage and ornate clothes made him sick.

On the second day, however, it wasn't Jabba who greeted him from the door. Instead, Andrew saw a man with tan skin, and sharp eyes. He dressed rather ruggedly, and carried himself with authority to the point that he knew at once that this was his new handler.

Before he'd said a word however, the man made a move close to him. And much like Grell before him, spoke in a low undertone. Only once he'd checked for any sign of Jabba now. "You're OK now kid. I'm with friends of your dad," He explained. "But I'm gonna have to play this smarter than the last guy. Can you pretend for me?"

Andrew felt his heart skip a beat, but nodded his head after a moment. The man nodded in agreement before turning on the flick of a switch. He grabbed hold of his mouth and pried it open gently as Jabba entered. "Well, I can see you have good taste, Lord Hutt," He pointed out with a complete tonal shift. "What do you call him, again?"

"Gusha," Jabba pointed out. "And he has promised to be on his best behavior."

Andrew could tell by the confusion in his eyes that the man didn't speak Huttese just as he hadn't. "He... Says that I'll be on my best behavior," He bowed respectfully. "What do I call you?"

The man stood there a moment - before noting. "You'll call me sir. But my name is Alpha," OK by his response probably not his real name. "Lord Hutt, I'd like some time alone with your pet. So I can asses his personality and the best way to proceed."

Jabba looked unsure of that, his eyes turning to Andrew with concern a moment. Yet after a moment of consideration, explained. "I will be out in the living quarters," He noted flatly. Clearly with intention to eavesdrop. "Be smart."

Andrew watched him leave with a chill up his spine. But when Jabba had fully left, "Alpha" put a hand on his shoulder and whispered. "Rex, but make sure you never say that," He noted. He gave a small squeeze and added. "You look well fed and taken care of, that's a good sign."

Andrew nodded. "I'm not a slave so my master doesn't beat me," He admitted - that much he would give him. "Look at the private room - it's pretty... Neat."

Rex, as he now knew the man to be called next graced his hands along the collar. Barely able to tug it as it had been snugly and firmly attached. "Well, he certainly has thought of everything. But I'll be in charge of how you're looked after now," He explained. "So what hasn't he given you that would make you more comfortable?"

Andrew knew going by the look in his eyes the man could get him anything within reason. But he also knew he had to play it smart or the Hutt may suspect something. "I want to get out of here. He doesn't let me out unless I'm at one of his things," He talked lowly. "You're the second person I've seen not in his inner circle in two months."

Rex's eyebrow seemed to quiver at the notion. "What the hell does he have you do all day then?" He asked quietly.

Again, Andrew turned quietly toward the door. Was Jabba listening? He didn't know, but he also knew that the Hutt thought he'd just submitted to him. And he had to keep it looking that way. "If I'm not in here he has me sitting with him in the throne room," He explained honestly. "Sometimes if I do what he likes he'll let me roam around but he has a watch on me."

He felt a chill run up his spine as he tried to say the next part as quietly as he could. "It's getting harder not to submit. When I do he actually treats me well," He admitted honestly. "I'm scared..."

Rex put another hand on his shoulder before noting. "Listen kid, I'm gonna get you out of here, I promise," He explained. "But right now we need to cut it short. Go ahead and brush your hair, brush your teeth too."

Andrew nodded his head slowly as he approached the tools he'd come in with. The teen couldn't help but feel Rex's eyes on him, but found his gaze unreadable. Would he really get him out of here? He genuinely didn't know. But something told him that even if he didn't know this man - he had to trust him.

When he'd finished and dressed himself for the throne room he turned to Rex. Who again flipped a switch and grabbed him roughly by the arm before leading him back out to Jabba. "Well, first thing's first. He's too pale, needs more sun," Did Rex know Jabba could understand him. "I think he needs more human interaction too. A chatterbox in there. I don't suppose you've given him friends to play with?"

Jabba looked at Andrew thoughtfully, as if he'd never thought about the latter before. He turned to Andrew with a thoughtful look. "Do you require human company?" He asked, Andrew nodded admittedly. "Tell him I'll pay him handsomely to spend more time here then."

Of course, Jabba wouldn't want outside influence as he would see anyone else. But Andrew had a sliver of hope it would work to their advantage. "Doing what, master?"

"I don't care. He seems very professional unlike the last blowhard," The Hutt noted rather harshly as he looked at Rex for a moment. "I'll double his pay if he will visit you on days I don't require you. If interaction is that important."

Andrew finally turned to Rex. "He says that if you'll come and entertain me while he doesn't need me," He paused. Trying to make this sound painful for himself. "He'll double your pay."

Rex played along with it, looking at Jabba with a deep scowl. "Figured you'd expect to put that on me. I'll take triple if I'm going to babysit some little pup."

Damn, he was good at this, Andrew noted. Even Jabba seemed mildly impressed, thinking for a moment before adding. "I like him. Tell him it's a deal."

It took everything in Andrew not to take a deep breath.

--

It took every ounce of self control for Rex to leave the kid with that slime ball.

Andrew had looked like he'd lost practically all hope at this point, and he couldn't blame him. The Hutt both literally, and figuratively, seemed to keep him on a tight leash. Now that he'd moved the teen into his personal quarters, it seemed as though the poor kid was forced to be near him 24/7.

His mind traveled to the last thing he'd seen before he was dismissed. Jabba holding Andrew in his arms and petting him like he wasn't anything less than a beast. The damn crime boss felt like he'd almost forgotten this was a little boy with feelings and aspirations beyond being a hood ornament.

So when he arrived back at Grell's hideaway it took all his energy not to pour himself a whole host of drinks. The man met him near the small bar inside the hideaway - which was the size of a compound if he was being frank. No doubt having noticed his frustration. "So... How did it go?"

Rex shook his head. "Jabba's a real piece of work. He's moved Andrew into a private cell in his quarters. Kid can't get away from him unless he's not needed," He explained rather bluntly, sucking a breath in through his teeth. "I managed to convince him though. He wants me to watch him when he isn't needed too now."

"That's a window of opportunity."

Rex nodded, but also lamented: "A very small one. Kid says he hasn't even been outside unless it's by the slug's side," He admitted with a certain glumness. "What I'm hoping is there is an emergency escape in his quarters somewhere. A failsafe in case things go south."

Grell nodded, it wasn't a horrible plan he knew. But it did require snooping, which Rex would have to handle carefully at best. "How's Andrew doing?"

That was the tougher part... "He's terrified of Jabba to be frank. He's making Andrew loyal through fear tactics and isolation," He explained. "He looked healthy and well cared for. But we need to get him out before the brainwashing becomes stronger."

Rex also was sure to add. "We have another problem too. He's not fitted with a normal slave collar anymore," He pointed to his neck for emphasis. "It was some high tech thing now. Welded completely shut and giving off a tracking emitter."

There was a dark look in Grell's eyes. "I've seen those. They use them on unruly animals," He explained. "You telling me they actually fitted him with a pet collar?"

"Tag and all," Rex explained. "I feel like he's trying to strip his sense of self away one thing at a time."

And now that Rex had seen the kid, had a connection to him. He'd be damned if he let that happen. "You look shaken," Rex looked up and eyed his "friend" curiously. "You sure you can stomach this?"

Stomach watching some kid degraded like that? Hardly. But Rex also couldn't just leave him now... "It'll be hard but it will be worth it when we get him out," He explained. "I'm in too deep to back out."

Grell nodded slowly and clapped him on the back, looking just as concerned. "Well, you got twelve hours before he'll want you there for that gala tonight," Grell noted. "No pets allowed, so I hear. Maybe you two could talk more then."

Rex agreed, they could definitely talk more then.

--

When Rex indeed returned that night, Jabba had already left.

A part of him wondered if the room was bugged, but a cursory glance revealed no cameras. Nor were there any wires. Jabba was nothing if not arrogant, seemingly believing that if you got past this point you wouldn't dare. Another point he believed could be used to their advantage.

He punched in the code to Andrew's cell, and with a nod motioned him out. "Good news, kid. We're actually alone. No charade to keep up," He pointed out - though pointed. "We just can't be too loud. He has three guards outside."

Andrew seemed to sigh in relief as he sat himself down on a nearby couch. Breathing in for a moment as he tried to keep himself calm. Jabba really had done a number on him, Rex could tell. "How's he really treat you, kid?"

The boy twiddled his thumbs as he thought about his answer. One which surprised him: "Worse than my own family, but that isn't saying much," Rex frowned slightly. "I've always been a status symbol. But at least my dad didn't make me wear a collar and eat scraps from his hand."

Rex had questions now: "I thought your father was a good man. He was a friend of the Republic -."

Andrew laughed. "He was nice in public. He was good at that," He admitted. "He and my uncle were both jerks. He was only even helping the rebels to make a profit."

The clone crossed his arms, believing the boy's words. It was no wonder he let Jabba push him around with little resistance if he was used to being treated poorly after all. "Don't worry, kid. When this is over we're taking you far away from here," He explained. "Somewhere you can lay low and start over."

The teen hugged his knees to his chest and eyed Rex carefully. It was obvious to tell he didn't exactly trust him yet, but in time he would. "You're really going to get me out of here?" He asked shakily.

Rex hesitated to respond for a moment, calculating his answer, before deciding on: "Or die trying," He explained. "You have my word."

It may have been a veiled hope for right now, but this kid needed it. If they had any chance at succeeding, he needed to believe that they could. "I know a thing or two about feeling controlled by very bad people," Rex explained honestly. "I don't think anyone - let alone someone your age should know that feeling."

Andrew then surprised him: "You're a clone, aren't you?" Rex's eyes shot up, what had given him away? But Andrew pointed out. "I've seen one of you without a helmet before..."

Rex thought through his answer tactfully, but after a moment decided lying would get him nowhere. "That'll stay between us. I'm supposed to be dead," Andrew's eyes widened - as if surprised he had been right. "If I'm found out we all would be in a lot of trouble."

Andrew seemed to nod in understanding. Probably thankful for Rex's honesty, considering he'd undoubtedly heard plenty of lies while here. "So... What do we do?" He finally spoke up again. "Should we be searching for secret ways out or...?"

"That's my job, kid," Rex noted. "You just enjoy a few hours of freedom while you can."

"I want to help."

"It's best you don't. If Jabba catches you, not only would I be dead but he'd execute you with me," Rex pointed out rather dryly. "You need to remember who we're dealing with."

That caused silence from the boy, who simply gave a timid nod of his head. Rex examined the quarters after that, yet to find a secret exit, but made note of the many rooms Jabba kept. Of them, two had windows they could break at an absolute last resort. But even he knew that should be at the bottom of their list.

By the time he'd finished his cursory observation a servant had come with food for them both. Andrew's was... Sloppy at best, but his was much better. Real food, he noted, as compared to slop. Without a second's hesitation, he switched their dishes and set the real meal in front of Andrew. "What's this stuff anyway?" He questioned as he pulled up the unidentified juicy meaty substance. "They're feeding you this?"

"They say it has all the nutrients I need or something," Andrew was still staring at the fine meal Rex had been brought. "I-I don't mind -."

"Kid, you've been eating this slop for months. Sit there and eat some real food," Rex was firm, not even giving him time to argue. "When you're with me, you're a person. Not an animal."

Tears seemed to form in Andrew's eyes. Perhaps it was the first bit of kindness he'd received from anyone since he'd arrived at the palace. And to be frank, Rex had eaten far worse than whatever mystery meat this was anyway.

He only mildly regretted his decision upon tasting it.

A/N: And now we get to the fluffy bits of the story now that Rex is fully in the picture! Hope everyone is enjoying!