Chapter Text
1900 hours
It began, as very few good things do, on Umbara.
Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano were returning to their legion after a long and boring trip to Coruscant that seemed completely unnecessary. Anakin should have been here helping his men. If the look on his captain’s face was any indication, the effort to take the planet had not gone well.
“Hey, Rex,” he said, noticing that his Force signature was radiating nervousness and fear. “How’s the war effort going?”
“Uh, we’ve taken control of the planet, sir,” said Rex, standing at attention. “But there were many complications, and, well—”
“Thank you very much, Rex, I’ll take it from here.” Obi-Wan walked up, looking haggard. Rex saluted crisply, and nearly ran back out of the room.
Anakin raised an eyebrow. “What happened? I haven’t seen Rex look that stiff since the first day I met him.”
Obi-Wan sighed. “The 501st has been through quite an ordeal, your captain especially.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Anakin. “Where’s General Krell? I’ll need the mission report.”
“Pong Krell fell to the Dark Side,” said Obi-Wan. “And he is now dead.”
Anakin and Ahsoka froze. “What?” they said in unison.
Obi-Wan sighed again. “We should have this discussion somewhere else.”
When General Kenobi appeared out of seemingly nowhere, Rex thought he would die of relief. He had been trying to come up with a way to explain what had happened with no luck, and he had not been looking forward to that conversation with Skywalker.
He maintained that they had done the right thing, and if anyone should take the blame for what had happened, it was him. He had taken too long to act, and even when he did, he had hesitated.
Poor Dogma was still locked up, awaiting a certain court-martial. It should be Rex there, but he had allowed one of his men to take the fall instead. He wouldn’t allow Dogma to be decommissioned. He couldn’t let another brother die.
Dogma was brave, there was no doubting that, but Rex had no idea how Skywalker would react to everything that had happened on this mission.
He had told his men not to hide anything from the Jedi. If someone asked them a question, they needed to answer it honestly. They didn’t need to get themselves into any more trouble than they were already in.
Rex finally found his way to his quarters and tapped his comm with shaking hands. His back slid down against the door. “Cody?”
His brother responded immediately, his voice low and calm. “Hey, vod.”
But Rex couldn’t stop his breath from speeding up; he couldn’t get enough air and he was gasping for breath and fighting to get words out but his voice wouldn’t work.
“Hey,” Cody’s voice was a lifeline, and he held onto it with everything he could. “Hey, listen to me. I’ve got you, alright? You’re going to be okay. It’s over, vod’ika. I’ve got your six, you know that.”
He did know it. But he’d been compromised, he’d failed his men, he’d killed his men, his brothers, he was a traitor to his legion—!
He must have said some of it out loud, because Cody kept speaking. “I know. I know. But listen to me, okay? Are you listening?” Rex nodded, forgetting that this wasn’t a holocall and Cody couldn’t see him, but he took Rex’s brief pause in hyperventilating as an affirmative. “It wasn’t your fault. None of this was your fault. I know you feel responsible for your men, that as their captain everything is on your shoulders. But you can’t do everything, Rex’ika. You did the right thing, you saved as many vode as you could, and that’s all anyone can ask of you. You’re a karking hero, alright?”
“I just—” Rex clenched his hands into fists, cursing his armor for protecting him when all he wanted to do was tear his skin to shreds. “I don’t know what to do now.”
Cody sighed, and Rex could imagine him pacing around his own quarters on the Negotiator. “Well, the good thing is I don’t think you have to decide what comes next. I talked to Kenobi before he left for the Integrity, and he said he would tell Skywalker and Tano what happened.”
“He’s talking to them now,” Rex choked out. “I don’t know how they’ll react, Cody, I don’t know if—” He shut his eyes tightly. Skywalker had always been on the clones’ side. He had treated them as people from day one, always listening to their input and asking them questions about themselves. He cared, Rex knew that.
But Krell had gotten in his head. For weeks he had been nothing but a number, completely useless except as a flesh droid. Rex had never been very sure of himself, and Krell had taken every weakness and exploited it. He had made him feel—
Krell had made him feel like he was back on Kamino.
“…vod? Rex? Are you still with me?”
“Yes, sir. I’m—Yeah, I’m with you, Cody.”
“Skywalker and Tano are good people, Rex’ika. I promise you, everything is going to be alright. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Th-Thank you, ori’vod. I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. I’m always here for you, no matter what.”
Rex muttered another thanks before shutting off the call. He should go find the rest of his men—particularly the ones that had been most defiant.
He would be there for them, no matter what.
2100 hours
Ahsoka fought back tears. Anakin had told her to find Rex, but she could hardly see through the twisted pain in her stomach.
She wasn’t as naïve as she used to be when it came to war. She knew this battle wouldn’t be easy. She had expected casualties, prepared for the losses, but this—This made her sick.
Obi-Wan was devastated. He had been used just as much as the clones, and lost some of his best troopers and friends because of it.
She turned a corner and almost ran directly into Jesse.
“Sorry, Commander,” he said, stepping swiftly to the side. “It’s good to have you back.”
“Thanks, Jesse,” she said. “Actually, I was looking for you. Do you know where Rex is?”
“Yessir.” Jesse’s face betrayed nothing, but she felt a spike of fear in the Force as he nodded and began to walk back the same direction he had come from. It killed her to see him so scared. Jesse was her friend; he should never be afraid of her.
“It’s okay,” she said gently. “No one blames you for what happened. You did the right thing.”
“I’m… not sure what to believe anymore, sir.”
Ahsoka wanted nothing more than to reach out and take his hand, but she didn’t think he would appreciate it right now. Too much had happened, and his faith in the Jedi and the Republic had been shaken. No matter how much she thought she was hurt by this, it was infinitely worse for him. She couldn’t overstep his boundaries just to make herself feel better.
She hadn’t come up with anything to say by the time they reached the barracks, so she just stepped in behind him.
Fives and Hardcase were there as well, but it was Rex who immediately stood. “Commander, I must request that any and all blame for the situation be placed on me alone.”
“Absolutely not!” Fives interrupted. “We knew what we were doing, we knew it would lead to a court-martial, and you told us that you wouldn’t cover for us again. There—”
“Fives, we’ve had this conversation,” Rex cut him off with an absolutely terrifying glare. “I’m not letting the three of you get decommissioned because—”
“Stop it!” Four sets of jaws snapped shut audibly, and they all stood at attention, the tension excruciating. Ahsoka couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “No one is getting decommissioned, and no one is getting court-martialed.”
Hardcase blinked. “We’re not?”
“No!” She wrapped her arms around herself. She would protect her men, no matter what the Republic or the Kaminoans said. They didn’t belong to anyone. “You’re heroes. The Republic only gets to intervene in extreme cases, most things regarding disciplinary action are left to Anakin, and he agrees that you did the right thing. He would be here now, but he’s with Dogma.”
Jesse shifted. “What’s going to happen to him?”
Ahsoka closed her eyes. “Unfortunately, that does count as an extreme case, so it’s out of our hands. But we will do everything we can to make sure that he stays with us.” She looked each one in the eyes. “We’re not letting him go without a fight. We’ll be on shore leave until Dogma is cleared—and he will be—so we’ll be going back to Coruscant for a while. The 212th will be on leave as well, so Master Obi-Wan can give his report to the Council in person. You will have time to rest.” She tried her best to smile at them. "Anakin and I read the report on how you managed to fly the fighters. It was completely brilliant—you most of all, Hardcase."
Hardcase's mouth twitched, and he began to feel almost hopeful. Ahsoka continued. "For your heroism and bravery, Anakin and I have decided to make you an ARC Trooper."
He blinked. "Really?"
"Really. Don't do it again though, it was reckless."
Fives actually laughed, and Jesse shifted his weight nervously. "So... we're not in trouble?" Jesse asked.
"No," Ahsoka said. "You've done nothing wrong. In fact, all three of you have been promoted. Congratulations, ARC Trooper Hardcase, Corporal Jesse, and Lieutenant Fives." She looked at each of them in turn, though she could tell they found it hard to celebrate in light of what had happened.
They all nodded, and Hardcase let out a small sigh of relief. Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase felt noticeably better, but Ahsoka could sense that Rex was barely keeping it together.
When no one said anything, she took a tiny step forward. “Rex, can I have a word?” He nodded, and the troopers filed out.
“Thank you, Commander,” Fives said quietly. Ahsoka smiled at him and put her hand on his shoulder briefly, and then he was gone.
She turned back to Rex, who had managed to keep his face neutral, but his eyes held a deep sadness that she had never seen before.
“I won’t pry if you don’t want me to,” she began. “And if you tell me to leave, I will. But I’m… I’m worried about you, Rex.”
He closed his eyes and lowered his head. His shoulders began to shake, and it was like a dam broke.
Ahsoka realized that she had never seen Rex cry before.
He hastily wiped his eyes. “I’m sorry, Commander. I thought I could—” He was cut off by a tremor wracking his body.
“It’s alright,” she said. She desperately wanted to hold him, put her hand on his shoulder, anything—but she didn’t want to crowd him. He had been hurt by a Jedi, it would make sense for him to not want her around, but she couldn’t just leave him like this.
She debated with herself for a good three seconds before pulling him into a hug. It was loose enough that he could easily push her away, but he just clutched her tighter.
“I’m so sorry, Rex,” she whispered. Nothing she could say would make it better. Nothing could bring back the vode that had been killed. So she just held him and let him cry into her shoulder.
“I hesitated.” Rex’s voice was barely more than a whisper. “I hesitated, and now Dogma will take the fall. It should have—It should have been me, but I fucking hesitated.”
“It’s okay.” It wasn’t, but what else was she supposed to say? “It isn’t your fault, Rex. Dogma is going to be fine, I promise.”
“Waxer almost died because of me. So many did die. We killed them. I—I killed them. They’re dead, and I just… let it happen.”
“Krell killed them,” she said firmly. “Not you. It wasn’t your fault.”
“It doesn’t matter. They’re gone.”
Ahsoka closed her eyes, fighting back her own tears. Rex had always seemed infallible and amazingly strong and stoic; he could handle anything. She hated seeing him like this, his faith in himself shaken and torn to bits, afraid of his men being punished for heroism.
“Nu kyr’adyc,” Ahsoka whispered, “shi taab’echaaj’la.” She held Rex tighter, ignoring the way his armor pressed into her uncomfortably. “You had bad intel. And when you learned the truth, you were able to save so many. You saved Fives and Jesse and Hardcase from execution. You uncovered the truth, and saved so many vode, 501st and 212th alike. And then you led your men to victory, like you always do. You’re a good soldier, Rex. You’re a good captain, and you’re a good person. You did everything you could, and I—I’m proud of you.”
He trembled against her, his body rigid as he refused to relax. “I’ve got you,” she murmured. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”
He didn’t say anything after that, but slowly the tremors stopped. And when his breathing finally steadied she helped him sit down against the wall of the barracks, never letting go because he didn’t, and she kept stroking his buzzed blond hair until he was asleep in her arms.
Careful not to wake him, Ahsoka lifted her wrist comm. “Fives? A little help?” She whispered, hoping that Fives would get the hint.
He didn’t, of course, and his voice came through rather loudly. “What’s the problem, sir?”
Rex stirred, and Ahsoka sent calming and soothing energy through the Force—not enough to make him sleep if he was actively trying to wake up, but enough to lull him back into his much-needed rest.
“Come to the barracks,” she hissed back, “quietly.”
A few moments later, the door opened, and Fives peeked in. His jaw dropped when he saw Rex curled up halfway on top of Ahsoka, soundly asleep.
He knelt beside them, awe evident in his eyes. “Rex hasn’t slept in a week. Kix threatened to sedate him.”
“Can you help me move him to someplace more comfortable?” Ahsoka asked. She was glad she was able to get Rex to sleep; he had a tendency to overwork himself to rival that of the marshal commanders’. “I don’t think he should be alone when he wakes up.”
Fives nodded and helped her lift Rex onto one of the bunks—probably that of a fallen brother.
Don’t think about it, don’t think about it.
He looked so much younger when he slept. All the harsh lines on his face were smoothed away, and he finally seemed at peace.
“Thank you, sir,” Fives said quietly. “We’ve—all been worried about him.”
“Please, just call me Ahsoka,” she whispered. “I’m not your commander right now… just your friend.”
He gave her a small smile, with just one corner of his mouth lifted, and she wrapped him into a hug as well. He hugged back, almost lifting her off her feet.
Fives looked down at her with that same smirk. “You really want to make Hardcase an ARC Trooper?”
“Oh, he’ll be fine. After all, if you can do it…”
He chuckled. “I’m glad you’re back, Ahsoka.”
She leaned her head against his chest. “Me too.”
Anakin only saw red.
He had trusted Krell with his men, and he had sent them into death, dehumanized them, forced them to kill each other.
He tried to shove down his anger—Krell was dead, there was nothing more he could do—but the thought of Dogma, who should be a hero for taking down the traitor, locked up as a criminal drove him to new heights.
His men were afraid. They should never have to be afraid of those who had sworn to lead and protect them.
“Anakin.” Obi-Wan’s hand on his shoulder brought him back down to the present. “There is nothing more to be done.”
“Yes, there is,” he said resolutely. “I need to check on my men.”
He stalked into the base, trying in vain to hide the storm swirling around in his mind.
“Where is Dogma?” he asked. Two troopers, Ridge and Tup, glanced at each other nervously before stepping forward.
“He’s in the brig, sir,” said Ridge, stepping onto the lift with Tup. Anakin followed, trying to push down his rage. He didn’t want them to think that he was angry at them, or that they had done something wrong.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said, wincing inwardly at how tight his voice sounded. “You all did the right thing, and I’m not going to let any more harm come to you. I promise.” Behind him, he could hear Tup let out a quiet breath.
When they reached the brig, Dogma stood at attention, the picture of a perfect soldier.
“At ease, Dogma.” Anakin knew he wasn’t known for being soft, but he tried to make his voice as gentle as possible. He deactivated the forcefield leading into his cell, and removed his handcuffs before sitting down on the bench on one side of the cell. Dogma seemed very confused, but he sat down on the other side.
“Before anything else,” Anakin began, “I want you to know that I’m proud of you. You did something incredibly brave and heroic, and if it was up to me I’d give you a medal for it.”
Dogma’s confusion gave way to shock. “Thank you, sir.”
Anakin nodded. “Unfortunately, it’s not up to me, so things are about to get really complicated. But I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make sure you stay with us. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you, alright?”
“S-sir?”
“The 501st and the 212th are both going back to Coruscant for shore leave. This is a military matter, but it’s also a Jedi matter, so we will have some influence. The Kaminoans will want to have your court-martial immediately, but I’m almost positive I can convince the Chancellor to get them to wait until after Obi-Wan gives his report to the Jedi Council. After that, Krell’s guilt will be unquestionable, and the charges against you should be dropped.”
Dogma’s chest heaved, and he seemed to be fighting back tears. Had he really thought Anakin would just let him be decommissioned so easily? He didn’t know very much about Kamino, but he knew enough to be sure that the way he treated them was radically different from anything they had ever known. He knew what it was like to be a slave, and he would never act like his men’s lives were worth any less than his own.
“You’re going to be okay, Dogma. I won’t leave you behind.” Anakin put his flesh hand on Dogma’s shoulder. He leaned into the touch, and Anakin’s heart squeezed at seeing the normally stoic warrior so broken. “I know this is a stupid question, but… Are you okay?”
Dogma laughed mirthlessly. “I just followed him blindly. He told me to kill my brothers and I almost did it.”
“But you didn’t,” Anakin said firmly. “In the end, you did the right thing. Sometimes we make mistakes. But we’re defined by how we recover from them, and by not letting the mistakes define us.”
Anakin blinked. Since when was he the one giving inspirational speeches? Some of Obi-Wan’s endless lecturing must have finally paid off.
Dogma had gone very quiet, so Anakin stood. “We’ll be en route to Coruscant soon. Do you need anything?”
He shook his head. “No, sir. Thank you.”
“Of course. You’re a good soldier, Dogma, and I’m proud to have you in the 501st. That hasn’t changed.” Dogma looked surprised. Part of Anakin almost wished that Krell was still alive, just so he could make him suffer for what he did to his men. For making them doubt themselves. For making them afraid.
He didn’t bother to handcuff Dogma again when he left the cell.
He needed to talk to Padmé. She may not be military, but she knew legal procedures. Perhaps she could help him get a head start.