Chapter Text
Rex was dreaming. It was a very nice dream because in his dream everything was alright.
And by alright he meant that all of the Domino squad was still alive, there was no Pong Krell, Slick hadn't betrayed him and his brothers, and the Commander hadn't left the Order.
Droidbait, with his unique accent, was chatting to him about Fives trying to steal his girl, (He didn't even know how Droidbait had met a girl), and how Echo was trying so hard not to get on Kix's bad side because Cutup had suffered semi-serious injuries one too many times. Echo was always the one bringing him to Kix during battles and the field medic was starting to get very irritated.
Rex chuckled, a small smile tugging at his lips. He remembered Kix grumbling to him about a certain twosome always coming to him during the middle of battle.
Rex didn't really know how Droidbait's personality was like, having never met him in person. He only knew that he had an accent unlike his other brethren, from what Fives and Echo had told him.
They were both gone now...
Rex's dream pushed away those thoughts and made him focus on the bright side.
Currently, they were winning the battle at Umbara. as they had just captured the Umbaran Airbase, General Skywalker leading them to victory, as per the usual.
Though there was one snag partway through the mission, where the Umbaran Airforce had dealt harsh blows onto their men, but Hardcase and Fives had conjured up the idea of sneaking into the Airbase and commandeering 3 ships.
They succeeded, and now here they were, celebrating a well-earned rest from their efforts.
"Oi, Droidbait! Come over here will you? We need one more player!"
Jesse yelled at the clone, Fives and Cutup behind him playing a game of cards.
Rex nodded at Droidbait, and the man joined his friends.
This was turning out to be a very nice day- Rex fell to the ground as an Umbaran knocked him down.
What the- He came out of nowhere!
He moved to punch the enemy but, as quick as he came, the Umbaran disappeared.
What?
He stood up, dusting himself off and taking out his blasters, just in case. This was weird.
Then, very much like the Umbaran appeared, an orange-skinned Togruta with blue and white montrals stood in front of him, along with a brown-haired, tall young man.
Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano.
His General and his Commander.
The general was shouting orders, but he couldn't discern what he was saying. To his side, he saw Ahsoka defending troopers, deflecting laser bolts. Clones were shooting at an unseeable enemy. Perhaps they were the Umbarans?
Rex looked around at the place he was in. It had switched from the Umbaran land to something more dark, black, and empty. The enemy couldn't be them.
The scene changed. He was on the bridge of a Republic Cruiser, in hyperspace. The low thrum of the engines ringing softly in his ear.
Ahsoka, someone he thought he would never see again, stood in front of him. She looked older, her lekku longer, and holding more blue and white coloring. His friend had grown taller too, her head reaching up to his chin.
She was saluting him, smiling, but she still had a hint of seriousness in her eyes.
He had no idea what was happening, but his body seemed to have a mind of its own. He saluted her back.
"Commander Rex, the latest briefing has come in."
Rex turned around to see that one of the officers had come into the bridge.
"Wanna have a look? It might have an update on General Kenobi's efforts."
He asked Ahsoka.
Wait… Commander Rex?
She shook her head.
"You go. I'm sure it's more good news."
He nodded and walked into the briefing room.
As the doors closed, a hologram of a cloaked figure materialized before him.
"Execute Order 66."
The hologram said.
"Yes, Lord Sidious."
He answered.
"Rex, it's Anakin, I feel like something terrible has happened."
Ahsoka was behind him now. When- when did she get there?
He dropped his helmet. No... not her…
"Rex?"
She questioned, unsure of what was happening.
Execute Order... 66... Why?... 60-
His men raised their blasters at Ahsoka. He had to buy her time.
"No! I'll do it.'
He ordered, voice gruff.
"Rex? What's happening?"
Ahsoka's voice communicated panic, surprise, confusion, as she took a step forward.
Automatically, he did what he would do as if she were an enemy, whipping out his blasters, hands shaking, eyes blurring with tears.
"Stay back!"
Knowledge of what he was about to do- what he was forced to do- dawned on him.
Gritting his teeth, he fought against it, but it was no use. Was there any way he could help her?
Fives. He had to make her find Fives.
He would save them. His sacrifice would not be in vain.
"Find him... Fives..."
He tried to say, but what he presumed was the inhibitor chip moved his mind back to...
Sixty.
"Find him..."
He could do nothing.
Six.
I'm sorry.
"Die!"
Execute it.
He pulled the trigger, and white flashed before his eyes.
Memories unfamiliar to him emerged from his mind.
Senator Amidala, holding hands with... the general? They were in his barracks, the room empty.
"When you throw caution to the wind, where is he?"
Anakin sighed, smiling.
"By my side."
"Then maybe that's where you should be for him..."
Suddenly, he was in the Jedi Temple, General Skywalker standing in front of him. Not that he knew much of how the Temple looked like, but he had heard the commander talking about it.
He held a green lightsaber with a backhand grip, much like a certain someone did, his hands not his, slender, and vibrant orange.
Fighting stances and styles came to his mind.
One, starting position.
Two, ready.
Three, attack.
Four, defense.
Repeat.
One.
"You ready?"
The general asked.
Two.
"Yes Master."
He answered. Or rather, Ahsoka he presumed, answered.
Three.
He attacked, graceful but fierce. This wasn't him.
Four-
Then he heard his voice, except he hadn't spoken.
"What's the point of all this? I mean, why?"
"I don't know sir. I don't think any of us know."
"I- It's in here. It's in all of us, every clone!"
"You're shaking, aren't you?"
"Jesse, we've known each other for a long time."
"But I do know, that someday, this war is gonna end."
"If we don't get this right, we will be the ones committing treason, not her."
"Then what? We're soldiers, what happens to us then?"
"Ahsoka..."
"It's bigger than any of us!"
"It's all of us."
"I only meant to... I only wanted to do my duty."
"One last glorious day in the grand army of the Republic."
"Organic chips, built into our genetic code, to make us do whatever somebody wants."
"The Republic couldn't have asked for better soldiers. Nor I a better..."
"This ship is going down, and those soldiers, my brothers, are willing to die, and take you and me with them!"
"You're a good soldier Rex."
Ahsoka.
No. Commander Tano was gone. She had left the Order. She had left him.
His eyes snapped open, and he sat up and breathed.
"Breathe... Just breathe..."
He said to himself.
The chances he would see her again before he died were low. He looked around. There was no battle, just his barracks.
He was safe. It was fine.
The sun glowed orange, casting shadows across the room. The other troopers started stirring, internal clocks getting to work, and beginning to wake them up.
He'd already forgotten what had awoken him... something about his handguns... and...
Never mind.
He should probably get to work.