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Rex took in a deep breath and closed his tired eyes. He exhaled slowly before opening his eyes again. The man then placed a comm device on the little crate in front of him, squaring his shoulders in anticipation.
"Rex."
A holo-projection of a Togruta flashed from the device. Her voice smooth and soothing, her smile albeit distant, still retained its warmth. Rex could only stare at her with a somber expression, the former Jedi staring back with sadness loud in her eyes. The crash still felt like it had happened only yesterday.
"Have you found them?"
She had asked, her brow markings raised lightly.
Smiling, Rex nodded. "Yeah. Yeah... They're right outside," he glanced at the exit of the darkroom he was in, his smile dropping a bit. "They're missing a member though. But brought with them a kid smaller than you were," his smile didn't reach his ears, looking very pained. The former Jedi frowned with a small hesitant smile.
"It's going to get harder, Rex," her smooth voice croaking a bit, fear evident on her face. "But there's still hope. For all of us... Or whatever that's left of us... I can feel it." She gazed at the blond contemplatively, her smile had withered away, and so many words remained unsaid.
"I know."
They stole a few more moments of silence, taking in each others' distant presence through the holo-projection -- wordlessly convincing each other that it was not a dream, not a mere nightmare to wake up from. It had been a fight to survive another day ever since the crash -- no more living to fight another day... Except maybe it would turn that way. They were both going to salvage whatever that they can... Somehow.
"Ahsoka," Rex called, with a fond look on his face.
Ahsoka blinked before raising her brow markings again.
"Can't help but wish you were here," it came out effortlessly, but it didn't mean any less. He hoped they could be together at that time. But she was always going to be too stubborn. She was a Jedi, being with her risked his life. As if surviving the crash and seemingly deserting didn't mean his life was already in danger.
Rex paused in his thoughts when he noticed that Ahsoka's eyes turned glassy. She bit her lower lip for a long second before gaping her mouth to say something. It was another long moment of silence before she finally said something back, "I wish we could, Rex..."
Her hand twitched.
Noticing the hesitant movement, the former captain slowly raised his own hand, gently showing the back of his hand and fingers -- mimicking a tracing gesture.
A tear or two escaped their eyes as Ahsoka raised her own hand to reach out to his.
"May the Force be with you and your brothers, Rex."
"...and with you."