Chapter Text
Rex didn’t much like being so far away from the rest of his unit, not with Fives’ words still bouncing around in his head.
He’d tolerated it though, because keeping the peace here on Mandalore was important – and here was where Ahsoka had gone after she’d left the Jedi Order.
General Skywalker hadn’t even had to ask him to do him a favor to keep an eye on his Padawan, he would have done it regardless, but knowing he was trusted enough for that, did a lot for how he’d been left here to try and keep the peace after the Duchess’ death. If only he hadn’t snuck in a promotion as he did that, because he didn’t much want the same sort of job Cody had, he was happy out here in the front-lines. It would drive him crazy to have to stand back like Cody did, if the war went on much longer.
Cody’s last private transmission had been that they were on the trail of General Grievous though, so the War might almost be over.
He wasn’t sure what he would do if the war was over, but he knew in his gut that one way or another, it was drawing to the close.
Then Cody commed him again, this time on his military line – and he thought that maybe it was to say Grievous was dead, but then he said, “Execute Order 66!”
He frowned at Ahsoka, who had come in the room for one reason or another, not recognizing what that was.
It was a whisper that he hardly noticed that had him drawing his blaster before he realized it.
It was Ahsoka looking at it that made him realize that the hand gripping it was shaking, and he wanted to point it at her.
It took but a thought to stop, but some of the other men with them had gone rigid.
[After all, good soldiers follow orders.]
(But he knew better soldiers knew to do what was right, if their orders were wrong.)
He watched as hands shook and gripped blasters, raising them in the general direction of Ahsoka.
It was their voices, something broken, something hissing, that had him moving, pulling Ahsoka behind cover, “Traitor? Are you a Traitor, Commander?”
She yelped as she went down, “No! No!”
He peeked around the corner, aiming his blaster at his men even as their hands shook more, and more than one clutched at their heads as they lowered weapons.
(He’d been immediately reminded of Fives – and how he’d said there were chips in their heads, controlling them. It had been why he’d shut stunners at them without hesitation.
They’d thanked him later, even as he’d tried to find any way to get in contact with their other brothers – trying to get in contact with Cody.)
He hadn’t hesitated to shoot them, not letting Ahsoka stand or draw her lightsaber until he was sure each one of them was out.
Ahsoka had helped him without question when he’d asked her to help him get the men out of here, and to stay out of sight once they woke up until they found out what had gone wrong.
Then they’d worked together to get off Mandalore, even as they tried to find out why their men had turned on her.
Which they managed with the help of an old enemy turned tentative ally.