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Rex was hoarding the butterscotch pudding. He knew it wasn’t fair to the kiddos, but he didn’t care. Butterscotch had never betrayed him. Unlike a certain Mandalorian who had flown off to test drive his new poison proof ship without telling anyone where he was going. Din had even taken the Son of the Old Master with him. Rex tried not to rattle with anxiety. Din might have ripped out most of the carbon monoxide detectors Rex had installed, but Rex knew for a fact Din had not found at least three of them. One was underneath the pilot’s chair. Din would never find it.
Cody found Rex hiding in his room cradling his sixth bowl of butterscotch heaven. The glow of his holo-pad lit the otherwise dark room. Stats on Cor-3 supply lines scrolled across the screen. Cody grimaced at the empty bowls littering the room.
“Is this some kind of plea for help?”
“I don’t need help.” Rex dipped his spoon back in his bowl.
“No, you need a stomach pump,” Cody countered.
Rex scowled. “Did you want something, or are you just here to harass me?”
“Both.” Cody leaned his hip against Rex’s desk. “You got my newest update on Cor-3?”
“All systems green,” Rex confirmed. He savoured a bite of creamy butterscotch.
Cody stretched his hands over his head. His spine popped. “We’ve exhausted our resources here,” Cody said. “We need a reconnaissance mission.”
Rex carefully lowered his spoon. “You want to got to Cor-3?”
Cody gestured to his screens. “These are good maps and scans, but it can’t compare to the real thing. We need measurements. Accurate readings down to the inch. Can’t get that from a satellite.”
All the little strings of anxiety that normally threaded their way through Rex coiled together in a ball in his sternum.
“Yeah, okay.” Rex agreed cautiously. “I see where you’re coming from.”
“Great,” Cody pushed back his chair. “Let’s go.”
Rex swallowed down the knot of anxiety fighting its way up his chest into his throat. It tasted bitter next to the pudding.
This made it real. This made it really, really real. What if Cor-3 wasn’t suitable? What if Rex and Cody landed on the planet and it looked nothing like the scans? If even one degree was off from their information everything would fall apart. And what about things scans couldn’t account for? All those trees seen from droid pictures might actually be some kind of clone eating monster that would attack at night and swallow them all whole. The surface might only be several feet deep. It might give way under their boots and send them all plummeting into the molten core of the planet. Anything could go wrong.
“Hey,” Cody snapped his fingers in front of Rex’s face. “Where’d you go?”
“Nowhere,” Rex brushed Cody aside. “What are we waiting for?”
Rex grabbed his go-bag with his helmet and armour and a mini med kit. He double checked he had the can of paint he’d been saving in the side pocket. Then he led the way outside to the landing pad. A thin drizzle turned the asphalt slick. An X-wing liberated from an Imperial raid sat waiting for them. Cody hopped up into the pilot’s seat. While he ran his pre-flight checks, Rex did a quick walk around the ship, going through an exterior checklist.
Rex ducked under the left wing. He nearly ran right into Luke’s Jedi robes. Rex straightened up. Luke’s pale face looked ashen in the grey rain.
Luke tightened his black cloak around his shoulders. “You’re leaving too?”
“Just doing a quick check on Cor-3,” Rex promised.
Luke’s lips thinned. “I won’t stop you. But hurry back, please. Din sent a message just a moment ago. He’s at the Mandalorian court. Apparently, someone told them he’d died following his poisoning. It’s chaos.”
“Kark,” Rex scrubbed a hand over his face. Just once he’d like the universe to give him a normal day. Just one. Twenty-four hours. That’s all he asked.
Luke continued. “Din may not be back for a while. I have a bad feeling about all this.”
Rex wanted to scream. He hated that phrase. Especially from a Jedi. They always said it right before everything went to kriff.
“We’ll be back before you know it,” Rex promised. He extended a hand to the Jedi. Luke grasped his forearm. The Jedi’s eyes remained solemn. Rex swallowed his misgivings and climbed up into the X-wing.
Rex strapped in behind Cody. His knees crammed against the back of Cody’s seat. It would be a long flight stuck in the tiny cockpit. Cody said nothing as he eased the ship up into the grey sky. Rex watched the Jedi academy shrink below them. He couldn’t shake the urge to memorise the layout. Like he may never see it again. Rex steeled himself. He was being stupid. Cody and Rex would come back in less than a day. Everything would be fine. The pit in his stomach was nerves for the clone colony, not for Luke and his kiddos.
They broke through the atmosphere. Cody punched in their trajectory. The stars blurred into blue streaks.
Cody leaned back away from the controls. “You going to tell me why you look like you’re heading to a funeral?”
Rex jerked his head up. “I do not.”
The cockpit was too cramped for Cody to turn around to look at Rex. They could only catch each other’s gaze out of the corner of their eyes.
Cody snorted. “This is going to be a long flight if you lie to me, vod.”
The Mando’a soothed something in Rex’s chest. He relaxed his death grip on his knees. Speaking to the back of Cody’s head somehow made confessing easier. “What if it doesn’t work out?”
Cody stiffened.
Rex continued. “What if we did all this work, and got our vod all hyped up, and Cor-3 can’t support us?”
“You’re worried about disappointing our brothers?” Cody scoffed. “We’ve been through worse disappointment than that, Rex.”
“We shouldn’t have to got through more,” Rex grumbled.
Cody’s shoulders shrugged. “Yeah, but when do we ever get what we want?”
This time, Rex vowed. This time the clones would have everything Rex had promised to them. He owed them that.
They stayed quiet the rest of the short flight. Cody flicked the controls and suddenly the stars became static again. Rex craned his neck to see past Cody’s head. Cor-3 glowed in the soft light from its sun. Swirls of white cloudbanks trailed across the green surface. Rex’s throat seized up. This was it. This planet would become the clone colony.
Home.
Rex shoved that word into a box in his brain and secured it with a padlock and chain. He couldn’t call Cor-3 home. He wouldn’t get his hopes up. Not yet.
“It’s beautiful,” Cody said.
Rex could only nod.
“Are you crying back there?” Cody twisted around.
“No,” Rex snapped. “Just land the kriffing ship.”
Cody laughed the whole way down to the spot they’d chosen for pitching their first settlement. Cody landed the X-wing on a grassy clearing amid the massive trees.
Rex leaped out of the cockpit almost before the canopy finished opening. He landed on thick grass dotted with tiny white flowers. He heard running water. Rex spun a circle. The whistling brook he’d charted on his holo screen looked too real in person. It splashed down a rocky bank and twisted off into the treeline. A bird perched at the edge of the water launched into flight. Its black feathers caught the sunlight and turned iridescent blue. It settled on a tree branch, looking down on Rex with an inquisitive tilt to its head.
“Not bad,” Cody said as he climbed down from the X-wing. “I’ve pitched a tent in worse conditions, that’s for sure.”
Rex snorted. “Like Hoth?”
“Kark Hoth,” Cody spit.
Rex grinned. Yeah, this place had everything he had expected and more. The lush green trees would make perfect lumber for building. The little stream looked clear enough that a basic water purifier should make it safe for drinking. Rex tipped his head back to feel the sun on his face. Everything was perfect. Too perfect.
Rex lowered his head. He swept his eyes over the thick foliage. Something had to be wrong. Nothing ever went this smooth. Rex pulled out his data pad and started scanning the area. The simple function on the device would collect accurate readings on distance and topography as Rex walked around the area.
“This is amazing,” Cody said. He pulled off his helmet and breathed deep. Rex watched Cody’s eyes fall shut and a small smile tug Cody’s mouth. The weight of the moment fell on Rex’s shoulders. This was the first expedition for the new clone home-world.
“We should have brought Wolffe and Kix,” Rex said. “They should have been here for this.”
Cody shrugged. “They’ll get here eventually. Stop worrying and come on.” Cody hiked up towards the ridge in the distance.
Rex wanted to argue he wasn’t worrying, but the hand not carrying the data pad kept straying to his blaster. He expected a monster to crash through the trees at any moment. Or one of the planet’s famous earthquakes to thrown him to the ground. Something had to go wrong. Nothing in Rex’s life had ever gone this well.
“We’ll build the lookout tower up here,” Cody said as he pulled himself up the ridge. Rex trailed after, letting the data pad get accurate readings. He swept the treed landscape for threats. He saw acres of thick tree canopy. Anything could lurk below those leaves.
Cody stood at the crest looking out over the site. He put his hands on his hips. “Yeah, this’ll be great. We’ll see any incoming ships for miles.” Cody pointed down to the clearing where their X-wing cooled. “The landing pad will go there. No need to clear any more trees than we have to.”
A thick dark cloud rolled in on the horizon. Rex watched it with trepidation. It would be just their luck if Cor-3 rained toxic acid.
Cody nudged Rex. “Would you relax? You’re making me nervous.”
“I’m relaxed,” Rex argued.
“Parade rest is not relaxed,” Cody countered.
Rex flushed. He’d fallen into the position out of habit. “Whatever,” Rex grumbled. “Where do you want the main structures to go?”
Cody surveyed the scenery, pointing to the places they’d mapped together on holo screens. It made all the difference in the world seeing it in person. They realised they’d have to build the mess hall elsewhere because of a protruding rock formation. Eventually they’d build more lasting structures that would necessitate blasting rocks and digging foundations. For right now though, Rex focussed on what they could put together until they had the stability to construct all that.
“Alright,” Cody climbed back down to the clearing with Rex in tow. “I think that’s all we can do right now. Should we head back?”
Rex glanced down at his data pad. It had collected all the information he expected. He tucked it away in his pocket. Rex looked around. He still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. It didn’t sit right with him. “Just give me a second,” he said.
Rex stood at the edge of the stream. The water rushed over the rocks, wearing away all of the sharp edges. Cody’s warped reflection overlapped the pebbles.
“What’s going on with you?” Cody asked. “I thought you’d be ecstatic to finally have boots on the ground here.”
“I am,” Rex tried to push some enthusiasm into his voice. He shuffled his feet. “Do you ever feel like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop?”
Cody sighed. “Yeah. I know what you mean. Is that what this is? You think this is all too good to be true?”
“Isn’t it?” Rex turned to face Cody.
Cody watched him with a guarded expression. “You’re not going to be happy here if you’re always looking for the flaws.”
Frustration flared amid the knots of anxiety in Rex’s chest. “I’m not looking for flaws. I’m protecting our new-.”
He stopped himself from saying it. The locks and chains around the box he’d slammed in his head rattled. No. He wouldn’t say it. Not yet. Not until it was safe.
Cody read everything on Rex’s face. Rex knew he did. Kriff Cody for always knowing Rex so well.
“You’re doing all this for everyone else,” Cody said. “When are you going to start doing things for yourself?”
Rex balked. So many thoughts ran contrary to Cody’s statement. Of course he did everything for the vod. He had become their default leader and leaders served selflessly. And as for doing things for himself; Rex hoarded all the butterscotch pudding for himself. That was plenty selfish. He didn’t need anything more.
Cody shook his head. “This colony is for you too, Rex. It’ll never be home if you don’t make it yours.”
“Of course it’s mine,” Rex found his voice at last. “I put all the hours and planning into it, didn’t I?”
Cody looked up at the deep blue sky. He didn’t say anything for a long minute. “When General Kenobi finished setting up the Navigator, do you know what he did? He brought a tea set and a little plant into his quarters. He made that space his. He claimed it and we all knew we weren’t to go in there because that was the only place the General could just be Kenobi, without the war, and the politics, and the command.”
Rex listened with genuine attention. Cody didn’t talk about General Kenobi. Not unless he had to.
“I’m telling you to figure out what you want to include in the colony and build it, Rex.” Cody placed his hand on Rex’s shoulder. “Build one thing just for you, vod.”
Cody gave Rex a little shake. “Are you getting what I’m saying?”
“Yeah.” Rex swallowed hard. “I hear you. I just don’t know what to do. What do I want?”
Cody shook his head, a tiny smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. “I can’t tell you that. But if you don’t lighten up, I’m going to throw you in this stream.”
Rex squawked. He shoved at Cody’s arm. Cody shoved him back. It quickly dissolved into a wrestling match. Rex gave after Cody pinned him to the grass.
Rex spit at a blade of grass tickling his nose. “Get off, you’re crushing me.”
Cody leaned more of his weight on Rex. “Are you calling me fat?”
“I’m not calling you anything because my ribs have just collapsed,” Rex groaned.
Cody lifted his bantha weight off Rex. Rex heaved dramatically for breath. “Did you swallow a planet before we got here?”
“Two, actually,” Cody joked. He reached down a hand and helped Rex to his feet.
Cody led the way back to the X-wing.
“Hang on,” Rex said. He stopped at the side of the ship.
“I brought something with me,” Rex said. He reached into his go-bag. His hands shook. He presented Cody with a can of orange paint.
Cody blinked. “Is that-?”
“You don’t have to,” Rex backtracked. Oh, Maker this was a bad idea. Of course, Cody didn’t want to paint his armor here. Not now. “It’s not the right colour, is it? It’s fine, you don’t have to.” Rex started to put the can away.
Cody’s hand landed on Rex’s wrist.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Cody beamed.
Rex’s lungs deflated in a sigh. “Thank kriff.”
Cody pulled his helmet out from under his arm. He looked down at the visor. “I don’t know what to paint.” Cody started removing his armor piece by piece. The chest plate, wrist guards, shoulder pauldrons, and cuisses stacked in the grass.
Rex folded himself onto the ground beside the armor. He twisted the lid off the paint. “Do you remember the paint parties we’d have when new shinies joined the squadron?”
Cody sank to the grass with a laugh. “Yeah. Waxer was always trying to convince some poor newbie to paint hearts and stars on their helmet.”
Rex laughed. “Fox told me once that he had to make a shiny re-paint his whole kit after the shiny thought it was a good idea to write “Juicy” on his rear end.”
Cody doubled over laughing. He had to wipe tears from his eyes. “On Fox’s squad? The Coruscant guard?”
“That’s what he told me,” Rex grinned. He looked over at Cody’s blank white chest plate. “Do you want the sunrise again?”
Cody stiffened. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s time for something different.”
“You can always change it,” Rex reminded him.
“Would you ever change your jag eyes?” Cody asked.
“No,” Rex answered automatically.
Cody nodded. He dipped his brush in the paint. The sunrise Rex knew as well as his own stripes filled in one stroke at a time. When he finished, Cody paused over his right wrist guard. He lifted it up and painted something with quick even strokes. Cody twisted the guard so Rex could see. A circle, broken at the top and bottom, adorned the wrist guard. Rex knew that symbol. General Kenobi had worn it in red and yellow on his same wrist guard when the kriffer had bothered to wear armor.
“The Open Circle Fleet,” Rex said evenly.
Cody nodded looking down at the gauntlet. “Do you think it’s okay for me to wear it?”
Rex thought anybody who told Cody he couldn’t honor his dead General with his paint should be ushered into the belly of a Zillo beast. He said, “Yeah. I think General Kenobi would want you to.”
Cody nodded again. He didn’t look up at Rex. He finished painting his armor the way Rex remembered it. At last, he dropped the paintbrush into the can. Cody exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for a million years. His shoulders drooped.
“Come here,” Rex stood. Cody pulled himself up and faced Rex. Rex strapped Cody’s fresh armor to him one piece at a time. Cody’s spine straightened and his chin came up when Rex finished. Rex knew how he felt. It had taken Rex a long time to feel proud of wearing his armor again too.
“So?” Rex asked. “Good, or should I throw you in the stream to wash it off and start over?”
Cody shoved teasing at Rex’s shoulder. “It’s good. Thank you. I’ve been meaning to do that for a while. I just didn’t want to at Luke’s school. It’s too-,” Cody trailed off.
Rex finished the thought for him. “It’s crowded there. And they all mean well, but they’re not vode. They don’t know.”
“Yes,” Cody agreed.
Rex nodded. He looked up at the trees. The dark cloud he’d noted before had rolled in, blocking the sunlight. “We better go before it rains.”
“Right.” Cody gathered up the leftover paint and brushes. He climbed up into the X-wing.
Rex followed and crammed himself behind the pilot’s seat again. The canopy came down and hissed shut. Rex stared out at the green planet. Nothing bad had happened, he realised. The other boot had not dropped. Maybe it would be alright to unlock the box in his head. Maybe he could call this place-. Rex inhaled deeply and held his breath. Maybe this place could become home.
Warmth spread through Rex’s chest so fast it made his head spin. A grin split his face without his consent. Home. This was Rex’s new home.
The ship lifted off. They climbed up into the clouds and Rex lost sight of the green trees. Then they hit open space. The planet shimmered below them. Rex watched it float amid the black while Cody plotted their course. It really was beautiful.
A beep suddenly shrieked from the panel.
“What’s that?” Rex craned his neck.
“Incoming message,” Cody answered.
Rex frowned. “Who has this frequency?”
Cody shrugged. He flipped the switch. Luke’s voice filled the cabin.
“Are you there? Rex, Cody?”
“We’re here,” Cody answered.
“Thank the Force.” Luke sounded stressed. “We need you now. The school is under attack.”
“The kriff?” Cody yelped.
“By who?” Rex demanded.
Luke’s voice dropped. “The Mand’alor has attacked.”