Chapter Text
The rain finally ceased somewhere around the planet’s midnight, though it was cool enough that everything would stay well and truly soaked until mid-day, and even then the shadows would keep their moisture for as long as they could. It was not the ideal conditions for drying food, but Fives kept watch through the night, stoking the fire and directing the smoke while the rest of them alternated watch.
When the sun finally rose to a height that meant “morning,” Rex found himself standing with Kenobi, Skywalker, and Fives as Fives gave his report.
“The good news is that the smoke is doing its work,” Fives said, testing a piece of meat with his bare fingers. He shrugged. “The bad news is that, with all this rain, it’s taking longer than it should. As long as the weather holds, we’ll be able to pack it up tonight, after the heat of the day, but it shouldn’t move until then, or we’ll risk it spoiling.”
Kenobi nodded slowly, one arm crossed over his chest as the other strokes his beard. Skywalker, most likely without realizing it, mirrored Kenobi’s stance, the finger of his metal hand tapping his mouth.
“Well, the obvious answer is to leave you and one of your brothers here to guard the food; you can catch up with us once the meat is packed.”
Kenobi frowned, dropping his hand. “I don’t like the idea of us being separated for that long,” he said, and raised a pointed eyebrow at Skywalker. “And no, I didn’t like it when you and Ahsoka ran off to catch us dinner yesterday, either, but save sitting on you, there was no way to stop you.”
Skywalker smirked, as if proud of that, and Kenobi rolled his eyes. “Still, just because I don’t like it, doesn’t mean it isn’t the best plan. Rex, if you wouldn’t mind asking for a volunteer to stay with Fives, perhaps someone who had an earlier watch so that Fives could get some rest for a while, the rest of us will break camp.” He looked out towards the direction of the ziggurat. “If we reach our destination early enough, we may be able to send a few more back to help carry the load; walls are much easier to defend than a camp, after all.”
Rex nodded, steadfastly ignoring the amused look Anakin sent his way when Kenobi called him by name. “I’ll ask the men now, General.”
Kenobi smiled at him. “Thank you, Rex,” he said, and with a salute, Rex beat a tactical retreat.
Jesse called out to Rex as he passed, sounding far too amused, “Where’re the Clankers, Captain?”
Rex turned heel and spun, “Jesse, thank you for volunteering. You’ll be staying with Fives to guard the food supply.”
Jesse opened his mouth, as if to complain, but instead simply gave a short sigh and saluted. “Yes, Captain.”
Camp was packed up quickly, and with Jesse and Fives staying behind. Echo also ended up staying with the food; he couldn’t patrol, but he could shoot and it would give Jesse and extra pair of eyes while Fives slept. Rex walked with Tup and Kix, in the middle of their troop, glad to be able to move more quickly, though he was hesitant about leaving anyone behind.
Kenobi lead the charge today, and Tano was with him to continue learning about trailblazing and offer another set of eyes and Force senses. Skywalker took up the rear; his lightsaber stayed holstered on his belt, but Rex knew that the clasp was loose enough for a quick draw. While Skywalker appeared to have more of his attention on fiddling with the transponder in his hands, Rex had been with Skywalker too long to not know the motions of his hands were habit and that his attention was on the fungoid forest around them.
Some divine force must have been smiling at them that day, because one moment Rex was listening to Echo mutter about protocol, and the next they were stepping into a large clearing that was filled by a grand stone ziggurat, largely intact but covered with creeping vines.
“Ahsoka,” Kenobi said, his voice hushed. “What do you sense?”
Tano frowned, her mouth pressing together as she focused. After a moment, she shook her head. “There’s a lot of life there, but I don’t sense anything aware. It feels...deserted and overrun.”
Kenobi nodded. “Good job,” he said. “That is exactly as I sense. Still, we must be cautious. We already know of a few animals that are able to shield themselves in the Force, and they can be quite dangerous. It wouldn’t do for us to discover a new species, just for it to eat us for lunch.”
“No, Master, it’s much better if we eat it for lunch,” Tano said, and Kenobi nodded for a moment, before he gave a mild double-take.
“You’ve been listening far too much to Anakin,” Kenobi said, dryly, and Tano grinned at him. Skywalker, who had been creeping closer behind them, appeared next to Rex just in time to hear his former master’s comment. Anakin’s grin well matched Tano’s, save for his lack of fangs.
Rex let himself smile as well, his face hidden as it was behind his bucket. Kenobi looked over his shoulder and, somehow, met Rex’s eyes through his visor. Rex stilled, and forced himself to relax. “Rex,” he said. “We need to establish a perimeter, and search the temple for potential pitfalls. Anakin, you take Ahsoka, I’ll take Rex with me. Kix, Tup--you’re on the perimeter. Stay in paris, and stay alert. We don’t know what we’re walking in to.”
Rex adjusted the grip on his blaster as he nodded, and followed Kenobi out of the fungoid forest. Behind him, he could hear Tup and Kix as they began their recon, but the sound quickly faded as they began to truly move in stealth.
Calling the structure before them a ziggurat was a bit of a misnomer; it was a massive construction of stone, in a stepped-pyramid shape, but that’s not all it was; the pyramid was only the first building in a series of three connected structures, and further seemed to be cut off at the top, as if the architects had stopped before reaching the pinnacle. The other structures, while they could see hints of them, were mostly hidden by the steps.
Skywalker tilted his head as they approached (all three Jedi had their ‘sabers in their hands, and Rex quietly thumbed off the safety of his blaster, making sure it’s blast was primed and ready), and said: “I think that’s a landing platform.”
Almost as one, they stopped and peered up. “Are you sure?” Kenobi asked. Skywalker shrugged.
“As sure as I can be until we get closer, but why else would they cut it short like that? Stopping at that level leaves room for a ship to land.”
“Maybe the top level was the ship,” Tano suggested. “It wouldn’t be the first culture we’ve seen that lived in a ship like that.”
“Nor the first we’ve found abandoned,” Kenobi agreed. “If that’s the case, I wonder who they were.”
“I’m more worried about why they left,” Rex said. “And if it has anything to do with the net around this planet.”
“All valid concerns,” Kenobi said, advancing once more. “But none that we’ll satisfy if we stay here. Come on, I see what might be an entrance.”
Tano and Skywalker exchanged and look, and Skywalker rolled his eyes; Rex knew Skywalker had the reputation for being reckless, and he was without doubt, but Rex knew that some of Skywalker’s bad habits had been picked up from his master--and Kenobi’s inability to have regard for his own safety when there was a mystery or a discovery to be had was proof positive of at least one of them.
Kenobi had, in fact, found an entrance; it was a doorway four times as wide as Rex and twice and high, that opened to the darkened interior. The four of them exchanged looks on the threshold, and then as one the Jedi each pulled out and ignited their lightsaber, Tano choosing her shoto blade. Rex adjusted his visor to it’s low-light setting, and turned on the spotlight on his blaster.
Kenobi and Skywalker nodded at each other and crossed the threshold at the same time. Rex looked at Tano.
“Five credits we’re pulling Skywalker out of a hole before the end of the day.”
Tano looked him over, eyes narrowed. “Ten says Master Obi-Wan will find a gundark nest.”
“Deal,” Rex said, holding out his fist, and they bumped vambraces.
“Come on, you two,” Kenobi called back. “Now’s not the time to dawdle.”
Rex smirked when Tano rolled her eyes, and they walked into the ziggurat.
It wasn’t nearly as dark as Rex had expected. There were holes high up, or perhaps thin windows (it was too far to get a clear reading), that let in the sunlight, and the beams reflected off of whatever reflective stoneface still remained--the walls appeared to be made of some sort of volcanic rock in a deep ocean-blue. At the height of the temple’s use, this main entryway must have been quite bright.
Tano had been right about one thing; the place felt deserted, even to Rex. The walls were covered with flat fungoids like steps that scaled to the ceiling. They were certainly big enough to look like steps, though Rex wondered if they were strong enough to actually bear their weight. (Fives would be one to climb them to find out--or perhaps Jesse, if it was to show off for Kix--that is, if Skywalker didn’t try it first). The floor was fairly carpeted in something like lichen, though there were bare patches there and there exposing the rock. It meant that walking through the hall was like walking across plush carpeting.
“It’s kinda pretty,” Tano said, and Rex had to agree; there was a sort of mystical charm to this place, to the whole planet, really.
“It is, rather,” Kenobi agreed. “But don’t touch anything barehanded until we can get Kix to run a full tox screen. Some of the prettiest things in nature are the most deadliest--especially when it comes to fungus.”
Rex looked over at Kenobi, but it was Skywalker to said what he was thinking. “You sound entirely too enthusiastic about that, you know that, right?”
“I see nothing wrong a bit of awe and a healthy respect of nature, Anakin. The Living Force finds its splendor in such places. Besides,” he added, casting a sly look. “My enthusiasm may just help us find food to eat.”
Skywalker made a face. “Ugh. Eat fungus?”
Kenobi rolled his eyes. “You’re continued aversion to mushrooms makes no sense, Anakin. I have seen you eat live insects and roasted lizards.”
“Well, yeah,” Anakin said with a shrug. “That’s food.”
“Not always,” Kenobi muttered.
They passed by a central construct in the middle of the room, like a giant fountain--though any water that may have once been inside was long since dried up. Instead, a small covering of pale buds perked up as Kenobi drew near, following his progress as he passed, and blooming in the light of his saber.
“Oh!” Kenobi said, leaning in for a closer look. “I think these flowers are Force sensitive.”
“What makes you say that?” Skywalker asked, and they walked closer. Tano stood on her toes for a better look. Maybe it was all the cheesy credit-romance Jedi holonovels that Hardcase read, but Rex didn’t want to get closer to the strange plant. It could have all sorts of weirdness in its spores (“No, no, read this one. You’ll like it. This time there’s sex pollen,” Hardcase had said, grinning and wagging his eyebrows. Rex had rolled his eyes and given that book a pass, even if the “Jedi” on the cover had an awfully familiar red beard).
“Look,” Kenobi said, and moved his saber past the flowers once more. As one, the petals turned to follow the blade. “I think they’re sensing the kyber crystal.”
“That’s incredible,” Tano breathed, eyes wide and fascinated.
“I wonder if there are any crystal caves around here,” Skywalker said absently. “It’s not a bad idea to have a secondary supply of kyber, you know?”
“It’s more likely that there are animals on this planet that mimic the force signature of kyber,” Kenobi said, pulling away. Rex was relieved when the flowers began to close and not one of them looked ready to shoot projectile pollen their way. “If we have time when we leave, I’d love to try and bring a sample back to Coruscant with me,” he said. “The botanists would love to examine a new breed of Force sensitive plant.”
“Obi-Wan, as long as it’s not trying to eat me, I’ll help you carry it,” Skywalker said. He lifted his blade higher. “Now, the bigger question: Which way to do you want?”
Rex looked, and before them were two doors, both opening to a darker shade of pitch. Neither looked inviting, and Rex doubted that there were windows to light the way.
Kenobi hummed. “Well, I believe I took right last time, so this time Rex and I will go left.”
“Sounds good,” Skywalker said. “Come on, Snips.”
“Coming, Skyguy.”
Kenobi watched Skywalker and Tano enter the right-hand door, still bickering gently, and then turned to Rex. “Ready?”
Rex adjusted the strap of his blaser. “Born ready, sir.”
Kenobi’s smile twisted wryly, but he lead the way through the second door with a small flourish, and Rex followed.