Twenty Three


Rex looked over the speeder bike and shook hands with the dealer.

"You've made a good choice sir," he said as he took the credits Ahsoka allocated him.

They were finally on Oriis.

After a month long incarceration on the little moon, they had jointly decided it was time to leave and head home.

To Piia's birth right.

Rex never disclosed the coordinates to Ventress, and to her credit, she never asked.

"Listen. If it were up to me, I'd haul your sorry arse into the Empire so fast your ears would bleed. But I am sure they'd arrest me along with you and I'm kinda used to being in charge of my own destiny these days. Anyway, I'm only doing this for the kid," she said looking over at the infant gurgling happily on the floor mat. "Whether you like it or not captain, she's sensitive. Collar her when you're out in public places or she'll bring unwanted attention. You understand what I'm saying don't you?"

Rex understood all right. Gem had told him that Kenobi had stated the very same on Coruscant after Piia was born.

"I hate admitting this witch, but I am genuinely grateful for your help." It was a grand statement from the former military man, one both Ahsoka and Ventress knew would have been hard for Rex to say.

Ventress looked him over provocatively, "you know, you really were a formidable opponent. Once. Pity you were on the losing side."

Rex couldn't help but openly laugh. Ventress sure had a way with her words. The bridge had finally been built and he could now count on the former agent of Dooku for help any time in the future.

Walking out the door, Ventress wasn't the kind for laboured farewells, "Good luck Ahsoka," she voiced over her shoulder, 'you're gonna need it with him."

And with that, she was gone, her twin light sabres swaying seductively at her hips.

It would be the last time either of them would see the dark acolyte again.

Both Rex and Ahsoka were quiet as they packed the speeder with their meagre possessions. They would ride into Longinnes, heavily masked and pick up more supplies before heading to the house later in the day.

They needed to keep inconspicuous, after all, Togrutans and clones weren't an every day occurrence on Oriis.

.

"Come with me today, into the clinic," Tash said as she began to dress.

"What, with all your crazies?"

"You were one of them once, I must be doing something right." Fives threw a pillow at Tash and she caught it easily laughing. Once he would have thrown it with such power she would duck in anticipation of it collecting her. These days, his strength, along with their passion was a slow burn; not that she was complaining. She had been given a second chance and she woke every morning grateful of it.

She had miscarried.

Again.

Twice she had taken the home biochemical test and twice she had been thrilled beyond words, but just when she decided divulge her secret to her life partner, she had been disappointed at the unwillingness of the pregnancy to continue.

"Come on, it'll be fun. I'll let you listen?" Tash was becoming expert at shelving her feelings.

Fives continued to stare at the data pad sitting in his lap. As the weeks passed into months he had become more distant.

He had finished work on the ancient speeder in the garage, initially enthusiastic, spending every waking moment on rebuilding it. But she knew he wasn't doing it for himself, but for a memory or connection to another. She would look away as he would struggle in, tired covered in a sheen of sweat from exhaustion and pain, but satisfied he had done what he had set to do. It was important for him to work through something she knew was endless.

A love, a bond so great she could only imagine ever being a passenger, sitting on the periphery of their unique brotherhood.

There were lots of things that needed working on around the property. Fences required mending, garden beds had become overgrown and the vegetable patch he had promised to plant never eventuated. He had even taken to parking the speeder outside in the weather, as the garage doors had become stuck from lack of use, and the Gods knew the interior of the house could do with a fresh lick of paint.

"I've noticed that the South fence has a few loose boards."

No answer.

Every time she suggested something it was met with the same response.

Silence.

Tash collected her satchel from the lounge next to where he sat.

"I guess that means you're not coming with me again today?"

"Tired."

Tash sighed loud enough for him to hear and put on her coat.

"You'll be alright here on your own?"

"Not like I haven't done it before."

She knew what she had to do.

"I'll see you later then."

Nothing.

"Could at least acknowledge I'm leaving?"

"Yes! You're leaving. Okay!"

Tash walked past him and slammed the door on her way out.

A child was what they both needed.

.

"Have you plugged in the coordinates?"

"Yes."

Rex seemed nervous and Ahsoka sensed his anxiety at getting to the house; the last time he had been there was under vastly different circumstances.

Piia had been born. Then, he had felt guilty in being happy and now, there was another kind of guilt, although it was mixed with the relief of finally being home.

Unless found, there would be no reason to ever leave.

He had reached the end of his journey and was looking forward to watching his daughter grow up in her family home.

"Okay, I'll drive. You have Piia?"

Ahsoka smiled and turned around to reveal the infant strapped to her torso. Jiggling Piia against her chest, they both beamed an enormous smile under the layers of Bantha wool coats.

"All good here, hey P?"

Piia's arms waved in response and a chortle escaped her, making them both laugh.

Rex could never be sad when he looked at her.

She was his greatest achievement.

With that, Ahsoka stepped into the pillion with the now eight month old child and gave him the thumbs up.

Rex started up the engine and slowly made his way out of the garage, heading to his final destination.

And hopefully a new life.

.

Fives was asleep when he heard the roar of the engine coming towards the property.

He waited to hear the missing of the motor, that erratic change when that spark plug wouldn't fire properly. Being an older speeder, new points were almost impossible to source and Fives was yet to find an alternative, had he bothered to try.

He looked at his chrono. Tash wasn't due home for another four hours. Something wasn't right, and he hauled himself up and made his way to the door.

He watched as she pulled the speeder into the area in front of the garage and get off, removing her helmet and tossing her blonde hair free.

"You're home early?"

"Yes," she smiled at him, "I've decided to have a break, the next two weeks I'm all yours. Get some work around the house done."

"Fek Tash, you just can't leave it, can you?"

"Whinge all you like, someone has to take charge," she replied as she unfastened her satchel.

"Nice, real nice," he said under his breath until he stopped cold and turned around sharply. Tash noticed how fast he moved, it was born in him and she followed his line of sight, scanning the only road in.

It was another motor, a bigger one than the speeder she had just arrived on.

"Were you followed?" His anxiety levels peaked immediately.

Tash looked worried, "no, no I don't think so."

"Go inside," he ordered as he limped inside the garage and retrieved the only weapon they had.

"Fives?"

"I SAID GO INSIDE!"

Tash disappeared quietly as he stood in front of her bike and watched as the driver slowed and passed through the open gate.

Fek!

He wasn't prepared physically to take on an intruder. His aim though, he felt sure, hadn't left him.

Rex had the upper hand. He knew Fives was at the house, but in all the turmoil surrounding them in the latter days of the Cone Wars, he never got a communique to him. He had the advantage and saw the man standing unsteadily with the weapon.

He scanned his ARC, he looked different, shorter and hunched over to the right a little. He knew Fives had been perilously injured. With no bacta tank, the damage would be permanent.

As he slowed to a stop he heard the voice at his side.

"Rex?"

"It's okay 'Soka, it's Fives."

"What?" Her tone one of incredulity.

He turned to see the gun aimed straight at his head.

"You have no business here," Fives said as he watched the driver raise his hands.

"I am unarmed."

The same silence descended over him. Fives was now in shock.

Rex spoke clearly, "I am going to remove my helmet now okay?"

As he removed his helmet and unwound the material hiding his face, Fives physically slumped at the sight of his old captain.

"Rex?" A small broken voice managed to make it's way out as Rex swung his leg off the bike and stood in front of him. Fives looked up to meet his gaze, tears welled high in his eyes, "am I dreaming brother?"

Rex said nothing but grabbed hold of Fives in a firm embrace, closing his eyes tight to fight back the same raw emotion that had engulfed his friend.

Rex heard the front door open and looked to see a woman step through with trepidation.

"Fives, Fives what is going on?"

Rex had mentally prepared himself for the reunion with Fives but hadn't anticipated that there would be another person at the house with him.

Rex took one look at the woman and it all came flooding back.

The loss.

My loss.

The wall that had been momentarily dropped went flying back up at break neck speed.

He let go and stepped back, "I have Ahsoka and my daughter with me," he said as he turned to hide the confusion on his face.

Jealousy?

"Ma'am," he acknowledged the woman, as he lifted the infant off Ahsoka and walked past the small group and straight into the house.

My house.

.

"Commander," Fives stammered out.

"Just plain 'ole Ahsoka these days Fives. It's good to see you, well, alive! I guess I'll get the entire story later?"

"Yes ma'am," he smiled and she sensed the old Fives, even if he didn't look like it.

Tash had stepped forward and extended her hand, "my name is Tash Belling."

Ahsoka smiled and shook it before she grabbed her pack. She then followed them both inside, noticing how Fives was leaning heavily on his walking stick.

"The captain?" he asked.

"Not now Fives, like your story, all in good time."

And that was something they all had plenty of.

Time.

.