Chapter Text
“Ahsoka!” Echo stood smiling on the ramp of the Remora. He waved as she approached.
“Echo!”
Rex had insisted that one of the members of his squad pick Ahsoka up on Taris. Once Ahsoka had applied to the University of Coruscant and then notified Senator Organa like Organa had asked her to, she waited anxiously to see if she would be accepted at such a late date. Senator Organa had said that he knew people. Ahsoka, though, was not going to take it for granted that she’d be allowed in. She was also anxious because she had to tell her landlady something soon so her landlady could find another tenant if need be. Then, finally! About a week and a half after applying, Ahsoka was notified that she had been accepted to the UC Sunderland campus for the upcoming year, her junior year.
Rex was ecstatic. “Echo will be nearby. He can swing by and pick you up. I insist. You’re not going to spend your money on a shuttle ticket.” So, that was that. Ahsoka bade a fond farewell to her mentors Clais and Elslith at Jarickstrom’s department store and at their suggestion, had her employment moved to the store near the Senate district on Coruscant.
After bidding her landlady farewell, Ahsoka made the long walk to the university’s shuttle landing zone, deserted at this time of the year. Ahsoka arrived plenty early and waited in the dimming light. After about a half an hour, the small light in the sky grew larger and larger. After landing, Echo bounded down the ramp to greet her.
“Echo!” Ahsoka said, as she went in for a hug. Fortunately, Rex had given Ahsoka a heads-up about Echo’s cyborg modifications.
Echo laughed. “It’s great to see you too, Commander. When I was released from Skako Minor, I was told how during Master Piel’s impromptu funeral at the Citadel, you were the only Jedi who spoke up for me and the other Clones who had died on the mission. That meant a lot to me and to the other Clones. I’m glad I’m able to thank you in person.”
Ahsoka nodded. “At that moment, I waited for someone to mention you and the others. I couldn’t walk away without noting you guys and your sacrifice. You were just as much an important part of the mission as everyone else. I’m glad Rex stuck to his guns and rescued you from Skako Minor.”
Echo beamed. “Me too!” He looked at her tote bag and bed roll. “Are these all of your things?”
“I’m afraid so. A few pieces of clothing, my bedroll, and my new holopad. I lost everything else in a fire. I’ll tell you all about when we get under way.” As they started out, Ahsoka filled Echo in on how one brief use of the Force resulted in a farm worker calling in the Empire and how she was able to defeat the Jedi hunter who responded, the same hunter who burned down the settlement.
“Senator Organa had encouraged me to contact him if I ever needed help, so he arrived and took the survivors of the attack to Alderaan. He also encouraged me to contact Rex and to transfer to the University of Coruscant. So, here I am.”
“Well, Rex is excited to see you again. We’ve worked to set up a special area for you in Trace’s garage, and we’re having a special dinner for you in Triple C, or Trip C. That’s Clone Central Command,” he noted, looking over at Ahsoka. “We should arrive a couple of hours before dinner.”
“You didn’t need to go to any trouble on my account.”
Echo looked over to her and beamed. “Nonsense! We’re glad to have you.”
____
“The Shadow Warrior.”
Ahsoka paused on her way to the Remora’s refresher to read the carefully painted script on the bulkhead. The Shadow Warrior?
The Shadow Warrior was the last in a list of names painted on the bulkhead under the heading “Teth” and a date. Other names listed were Nemec, Fireball, and several others Ahsoka didn’t recognize. By each name was a small symbol that appeared to represent personalizations on armor. In remembrance, Ahsoka placed her hand on the list and bowed her head for a moment.
“That’s where we lost most of our squad.” Echo said, coming up behind her. “The old monastery on Teth. I think you were there once.”
“Yeah. When we recused Jabba the Hutt’s son a long time ago.” She turned back to the text. “Who is The Shadow Warrior?”
“He was a Clone the Empire turned into an assassin. He’s just as much a victim, though, as the rest are. When you come back up, I’ll tell you the whole story.”
“Why is the memorial here?”
“Well, we figured we’d be moving around a bit. By painting the memorial on the bulkhead, we’d always have it with us.” Echo turned and made his way back to the pilot’s chair.
“That makes sense.” Ahsoka regarded the memorial for another moment and then proceeded on to the ‘fresher.
______
During the ride to Coruscant, Echo filled Ahsoka in on Rex and his squad’s efforts to help other Clones remove their chips and to collect data to use against the Empire. “Striking against the Empire is something we’re still debating. Before Teth, we had a larger force, but now, it’s just the four of us again. We have made progress, though, getting other Clones relocated.”
“How is Rex doing with losing most of his squad?”
“Rex is mourning our brothers, of course, and I think he’s at a loss. Maybe we all are. For a long time, we had a three-fold mission: helping our brothers with their chips, striking against the Empire, and freeing the Clones on Tantiss. I guess you haven’t heard about Tantiss. Let me back up, though, so this will make sense. I think Rex told you that I joined Clone Force 99…”
Echo launched into his story of Clone Force 99 and the squad’s mission on Kaller with General Bilaba and her padawan when Order 66 was issued.
“Caleb got away?” Ahsoka exclaimed. “I’m so glad. I hope he’s okay. Caleb was a couple of years behind me at the temple. What about Crosshair though, you said his chip partially activated. What about the rest of you?”
“Tech reasoned that their enhancements saved them, aside from Crosshair, while my modifications overrode or destroyed my chip.”
Echo continued with meeting Omega and learning about her.
“I’ve never heard of a female Clone,” Ahsoka noted in surprise.
“Yep, first generation Jango Fett DNA. There’s actually one more female Clone that we know of, Dr. Emerie Karr. You’ll definitely meet both Omega and Emerie at some point.” Echo continued on as to who Emerie was and how she helped on Tantiss. “Omega and Crosshair can tell you about how they escaped Tantiss. Tantiss is where the Shadow Warrior came from. Crosshair confirmed that these were brainwashed Clones made into killing machines by the Empire. One destroyed the base on Teth when he arrived to neutralize the Shadow Warrior Rex and the boys had captured.”
Echo continued, detailing Omega’s recapture by the Empire and the unit’s attack on Tantiss.
“I was able to join the mission, but Rex, Gregor, and Howzer were off on another one. Rex had been chomping at the bit to have a go at Tantiss, but Hunter was adamant that he couldn’t wait for Rex and the others. We had to go right then to rescue Omega. Rex was grateful the mission was a success, but I think secretly, he was a bit aggravated. A rescue mission of Tantiss was Rex’s goal, and then suddenly it was over without him. Rex is a soldier and didn’t get a chance to be a soldier. He wants to have a go at the Empire, but frankly, the Empire’s too big, and we’re too small.”
“Rex is falling back on being a soldier when life is going elsewhere. I know a thing or two about that. I’ll talk to him.
A while later, Ahsoka turned the conversation back to The Citadel. “Echo, I don’t know why Anakin and Obi-Wan didn’t mention any of the Clones during Master Piel’s impromptu funeral. Maybe they were distracted and concerned about us being pursued; I don’t know. Later, every time I thought to ask one of them, we’d be off on another crazy mission, and I’d forget, and then, I was gone. I do know, though, without a shadow of a doubt, they valued all of the Clones under them. I know this; I heard them talk. They saw all of you as the people that you are. They didn’t see Clones as disposable objects. So, yes, they should have mentioned the fallen Clones, but just as much of a yes, they valued each of you and never saw any Clone as less than.”
“You were able to mention us.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t have the weight of the whole mission on my shoulders. Please think about my words and take them to heart. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Plo Koon, Yoda, Ayala Secura, and some others saw each Clone as a unique and valued individual and worked to protect all of you as much as they could. I’m not just saying this to be nice. I’m saying it because it’s true. Please believe this.”
Echo looked over and smiled. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
______
“Thanks for the information; this will come in handy.”
Rex looked up from his comm unit when he heard the garage bay doors open. He did a double-take when he saw the woman approaching. Taller with longer montrals and lekku, this was no teen but a woman with curves in the right places. Rex noted how her skirt showed off the shape of her legs as she approached.
“Hey, I’ve got to go. I’ll be back in touch soon,” he said, ending the connection.
Ahsoka stopped in front of Rex. “Hey, Rex.”
“Hey, kid.” Rex continued to stare, a small smile of wonder on his face.
“Uh, do I get a hug?” she asked, opening her arms.
“Of course! Welcome, Commander!” Rex step into her arms and gave her a bear hug, lifting her off her feet momentarily. “It is so good to see you!”
“You too, Rex.” She looked around at their set-up in the garage. “I’m glad you found a home here.” Right then, Echo entered.
“So, this Trip C, Clone Central Command,” Echo said, gesturing across the area with his hand.
Ahsoka looked around in puzzlement. “The kitchen?”
“Yes!” Rex and Echo responded enthusiastically. There in the midst of the tools, grease, and repair bays was an island of domesticity that Rex and Echo regarded with happiness.
“I’ll put your bags in the area we set up for you.” Echo informed Ahsoka.
Just then, a happy beep sounded. “R7!” R7-A7 rolled up to Ahsoka and gave a couple more happy beeps.
“Yeah,” Rex said. “I gave Trace the parts and told her you said she could have it. She got it back up and running.”
“Good, R7’s a great droid and really helped us.”
Rex nodded in agreement as both remembered R7 and the other droids who helped them escape after Order 66.
“Sit, sit,” Rex urged. Ashoka settled down at the table while Rex bustled about putting together two cups of caf.
“I remember Trace having a sink and a microwave. When did she put in the extras for a full-fledge kitchen?”
Rex set a cup of caf before her. “Here you go, lots of flavored creamer just like you like it. I bought a few flavors just for you.”
“You didn’t need to go to the trouble, but I certainly appreciate it.” Ahsoka gratefully accepted her cup.
“Trace added bits and pieces over time,” Rex continued. “She said it’s in case she wants to follow the trend of turning this industrial space on the access shaft into a loft apartment. She hasn’t said anything to us about leaving, though. Lucky for us, there were already two full bathrooms complete with showers.”
“Yeah, I think her folks put those in. I need to talk to Trace and see if I can stay here long-term in exchange for helping out with repairs.”
“I’m sure she’d love to have you. We don’t have any agreement with her, although we do serve as a sort of informal security for the business,” Rex noted.
Right then, the side door slid open to loud laughter and what sounded like a good-natured debate.
“That’s Gregor and Howzer,” Rex noted to Ahsoka. He called them over and made the introductions with a brief intro for each.
“Well, you’re a damn sight better looking than the usual people we hang around with,” Gregor laughed. “I mean Clones, not Trace and Rafa.”
“Thanks,” Ahsoka laughed.
“We’ll leave you two to catch up. We’ll start dinner in a little while.” This from Gregor as he and Howzer moved off.
“So, Commander,” Rex said, settling down at the table across from Ahsoka. “Fill me in. What have you been up to?” Ahsoka updated him on leaving the farm and attending college.
“You left the farm? I thought it was safe there.”
“These days, safe is relative, particularly with the Empire spending more and more time on Raada,” Ahsoka responded. “My life needed to move forward, and what better place for a young person to hide than in a sea of young people.” She filled him in on her chain code, her life at school, and defeating the Jedi hunter on Raada.
“The good thing is that I was still known as Ashla, so that’s the name the guy used when he reported me.”
“Good of you to help him out despite what he did.”
“Well, he realized his mistake, particularly when I saved his life.”
“You have a habit of doing that,” Rex said with a smile.
“Yeah, it’s a bad habit I picked up.” She continued on with her encounter with Senator Organa and applying at the University of Coruscant at his suggestion. “So, he apparently pulled some strings and got me in a such a late date. We’re two weeks before classes start. I am grateful, though. I was on my own for three years, and I have no shame in saying that not having a community was getting to me.”
Rex leaned across the table and lay his hand on hers. “Ahsoka, we are your community. You have a home here.”
For the next hour, the two continued to chat and fell back into their rhythm as if no time at all had passed.
“You know Rex, one thing I’ve realized with time and experience is that the Jedi Council was fine with us doing their job for them, particularly while Anakin and Obi-Wan were defending Coruscant. I wasn’t a Jedi, so I was expendable. The Clones were expendable, so if we failed with Mandalore and Maul, it wouldn’t have cost the Jedi anything. Not really. Maybe I’m just jaded,” she laughed.
“Or maybe not,” he added. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Yeah. Also, and a lot of people wouldn’t want to hear this, but I did learn things being on the run that helped me with Mandalore. I learned to stand on my own feet and make my own decisions under stressful conditions. I didn’t have Anakin or Obi-Wan, or you, to stand behind and make decisions for me. It truly was a trial by fire. I also learned to, shall we say, “think out of the box,” and find other and better ways, just like we had to on Mandalore in the middle of chaos. I also learned that desperation’s a strong and reckless motivator. I think that helped me see Maul’s actions.”
“So the Force had you go through all that after the temple bombing?”
“Maybe. Or, since absolutely none of it should have happened, maybe the Force was using other people’s mis-judgements to make something good.”
“Ahsoka, that reminds me. Like I said when we were camping out right after Mandalore, Skywalker had a lot of regrets about the whole situation that made you leave and wished he could have done things differently. His actions can be debated, but not his intentions towards you. His intentions were always good, and he was always devoted to you. Yoda personally told him to act or he’d loose you, so Skywalker acted, probably rashly, but that’s how Skywalker always acted.”
Ahsoka smiled softly. “Yeah. Thanks, Rex. I really appreciated our talk that night on Naboo. As for Anakin, for a time after that, I’d get so angry at him, and sometimes at Plo Koon, for hunting me even though I see some of their perspective. Anakin and I touched on it very briefly right before Mandalore. In the last couple of years, there’d be days I’d be fine, and days, I’d be really angry at him and then feel guilty because I couldn’t get past it and felt like I was being unreasonable. Some of the literature I got from the student counseling center noted that anger and thoughts like that are a common part of trauma. The point was to understand that it’s a sign of trauma and not to feel guilty about it. An emotion like that is neither good or bad, it just exists. You have to experience it and let it burn itself out, despite what the Jedi taught. I felt better once I recognized it for what it was, and that helped over time to diffuse my anger.”
“After Umbara, I’d get so angry at Jesse and Fives, not to their faces, you know, but angry that they and Hardcase put me in the situation of having to obey Krell and order their execution. It wasn’t their fault, and I’d feel guilty about being angry. They had their own trauma, and I’d feel guilty about that and then mad at Pong Krell and what he ordered me do. Fives and Jesse were right, reckless but right, and their actions and Hardcase’s sacrifice saved a lot of lives.”
“That’s part of the trauma you suffered. Don’t beat yourself up. It was all Pong Krell.”
“Yeah.”
She signed and shook her head. “You know with age and wisdom, I can see where I was such an idiot.” She paused and looked at Rex’s astonishment. “This is where you object and say I was never an idiot.”
“You caught me off guard, Commander. You’re the last person I’d ever think of being an idiot.”
“Well, maybe idiot’s too strong of a word, but that’s how I feel sometimes. Trusting Barriss, not seeing any red flags with her, leaving my cell, and running, although I did truly panic and all the shooting and explosions and such just made me panic more. Fight or flight, you know.
Rex reached over and squeezed her hand again. “It’s totally understandable. I for one hated seeing all those soldiers chase you, but, remember, you came out on top.”
“I know, I know. Senator Organa told me what he had learned about Barriss.” Ahsoka filled Rex in on Barriss being taken from the GAR brig right after Order 66. “He said no one’s heard from her since.”
Rex frowned slightly. “I can ask around, but my contacts haven’t said anything about her. I hope she’s not causing trouble. If I come upon her, I might just have to shoot her.”
“Well, I for one, hope I never see her again, but thanks for potentially shooting her. I guess.”
“Hey, anything for a friend. That reminds me, Ahsoka, around here, you’ll most likely run into Clones who recognize you and bring up what happened. I’ll try to shield you as best as I can, but just be prepared.”
“Rex, I’m an adult. You don’t need to shield me.”
Rex pulled back. “Nonsense! You saved me at least twice. That’s what you and I do. We protect each other. I have your six; we all do,” he nodded towards the other three Clones.
Ahsoka held up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. I appreciate it.”
Rex leaned back in his chair. “You know, kid, you made the right decision to leave. I wasn’t so sure at the time even though most of the boys agreed with you. They didn’t want to lose you, but they understood. As time went by, I too agreed. I saw Skywalker’s disillusionment with the Jedi growing, and I totally agreed with him. Oh,” Rex paused and a shadow fell across his face. That reminds me, I do have two bits of news you might not have heard.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, Fox is dead. A few months after Order 66. I don’t have any details other than his neck was snapped by that Vader character. You heard about him?”
“I’ve seen a couple of brief mentions about him on the news, but that’s about it. Looks like Palpatine’s got a new flunky.”
“Yeah, he appeared out of nowhere shortly after Order 66. I can’t get any intel on him other than he commands the 501st, which is now nicknamed “Vader’s Fist.”
“Oh no!”
“Yeah,” Rex sighed. “Only a few boys have been able to desert. No one from the 501st has applied to be discharged like other Clones have. Guys who have deserted said they didn’t feel like they could apply for a discharge, not since Vader would probably hear about it. For other units, it seems like they’re glad to get rid of Clones.
“Now, about the 501st, I have the other bit of news. As time has gone by, memories have surfaced in many Clones about that day when Order 66 was ordered. I’ve heard several Clones say it was the 501st who invaded the Jedi Temple and slaughtered the Jedi.”
“No!”
“Yeah, it gets worse. The few who remember the leader that night say it looked like a tall, male Jedi, long cloak and hood and all, with a light saber. This is the really strange part, I’ve run into a couple who swore up and down that the Jedi was Skywalker.”
Ahsoka shook her head emphatically. “That’s impossible. Anakin would never do that.”
“You said you felt something about him in the Force.”
“Yeah, I felt great anguish and anger from him right before I ran over to you. That was immediately after Order 66 came out. I felt there was a huge and violent conflict with him, but then nothing more. I reached out in the Force several times since then but have felt absolutely nothing. That nothingness happens only when a Jedi is gone. I have to conclude that what I felt was Anakin fighting right before he was killed around that time.”
“You said you couldn’t feel anyone else, right?”
“Not really. I’ve felt slight ripples here and there, but those have decreased over time. I don’t know who they were or where. As for Anakin, I only had a bond with him. With Order 66, I felt, how to explain it, a sense of horror that was in the Force overall, and I felt, not heard, but felt many voices crying out, then Anakin’s anger or anguish and then nothing other than a strong sense of evil before the connection broke. That evil couldn’t have come from him. Anakin would be angry but would never have fallen to the dark side and attack the Jedi. I’m sure he was angry at the Council about me, but he’d never destroy them. The only logical conclusion is that he fought as hard and as long as he could before he was overcome. Anakin was among the best, but he wasn’t indestructible.” Ahsoka shook her head in dismay. “Another thought is that he was able to escape and closed off our bond to protect both of us, but it’s just a thought.”
Rex took a sip of caf and looked over to Ahsoka. “Reports are that this Vader character uses a lightsaber as well as the best Jedi. That’s how it was described to me.” Rex and Ahsoka stared at each other for a moment.
“No.” Ahsoka shook her head. “It’s not possible.”
“Maul did say that Skywalker was being groomed as the right-hand man of Sidious.”
Ahsoka was incredulous. “Are we really sitting here thinking that Anakin could be Vader?” Elbows on the table, she rested her forehead on her clasped hands. “Yes,” she said, looking up. “That is what Maul said, but was that him manipulating me into joining him? I don’t know. What I do know is that Anakin no longer exists in the Force. I don’t know who this Vader is, but Anakin is gone.”
Rex sighed. “Yeah, I agree. I knew Skywalker well enough to give him the benefit of the doubt. I’d say Vader is a former Jedi, though. The Council didn’t detect Krell or Offee; who knows who else slipped by them.”
“That is entirely possible, and disturbing. We still don’t know if he’s the same person who led the temple attack.”
“No. I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.”
“Thanks. It took a few months, but there on the farm, I was finally able to let go and mourn Anakin properly. It was freeing to finally get that burden off. You know, Rex, something I’ve never asked you about. Remember when after capturing Maul, you came to get me because the Council was meeting? You said Anakin was there when you left to get me. Did he say anything about me?”
“Yeah, kid. He had a big smile on his face. As I was walking out, he said to someone, ‘I told you Snips would win.’ He was as proud as could be.”
“Thanks, I’m glad.” Ahsoka thought for a moment. “You know, Rex, if you hadn’t come with me to Mandalore…”
“I’d have been there at the temple. Yeah, that thought’s a bit horrifying.”
“And you’d probably still be there trapped under Vader’s command. Is there anything we can do for the boys still there?”
“We’re always trying to establish contact, but they’re locked down pretty tight.”
“What about Cody? Have you been in contact with him?”
“I have, in fact. Not too terribly long after I left you, Cody got in touch. He deserted and is with Cut and Suu, you remember them. They’ve relocated, and Cody’s farming with them. He’s not helping us at the moment. He said after so long dealing in death, he prefers to spend time dealing with life and helping things grow. Cody’s had his own emotional recovery. Oh, speaking of Cody, he told me that Kenobi had visited you, you know, after you left the order. I was planning on visiting you too, but we didn’t get back to Coruscant.”
“It would have been good to see you. Oh, by the way, Rex, I’m so sorry you weren’t made commander before Mandalore. I was a reckless kid and never should have had that rank.”
“Well, that was a Jedi thing, and it wasn’t the place of the Clones to question it. Actually, I didn’t pay it any mind since I was a clone trooper and not engineered genetically to be a clone commander like the CCs were. Besides, I liked managing smaller units of men than the larger units like the commanders did.”
“Yeah, but still. Do you know why you weren’t promoted right after I left?”
“Jesse asked me about it a couple of times. Skywalker was distracted for a while, we all were frankly. You, anger at the Order, hopes that you’d return, plus we were on a losing streak. That’s what led to discovering Echo. So, it just wasn’t an issue. Had things not turned south for the Jedi after Mandalore, I would have been the commander over the reunited 501st.”
“Yeah, well, you should have been long before then.” To that, Rex just smiled.
“Oh, speaking of the Jedi,” he noted, “did you hear about Dex’s Diner? He had to flee to the underworld not too long after Order 66. He was associated with the Jedi.”
“All Dex did was serve food. He served anyone who could pay, and many who couldn’t,” Ahsoka noted, thinking back to her first couple of days after leaving the Jedi.
“I know. Anyone associated with the Jedi were targeted.”
Right then, Gregor entered the kitchen area. “Chow time?” he asked Rex.
“Chow time,” Rex agreed and rose.
Gregor brought a small plate from the cooling unit over to Ahsoka. “Here you go, some nibbles to tide you over while we finish up dinner.”
“Oh, let me help.” Ahsoka started to rise to rise.
“Nope, you’re the guest of honor. You sit, and we’ll work. You can observe our Clone cooking skills.”
Ahsoka looked down at her small plate. Three slices of some type of creamy cheese were artistically arranged overlapping. Beside them was a small mound of nuts with a sweet coating. Beside that was a small flower made out of a vegetable. “How nice! What is this?” She said holding up the flower.
“Oh, that’s nothing,” Gregor responded, oven mitt in hand. “You just peel a carrot and take one of the long peels and roll it into a flower. It makes a nice garnish.”
Ahsoka’s eye widened in surprise. Garnish? Since when were Clones into garnish?
“The candied nuts are a recipe we got from chef Ila Barton,” Rex explained. “We call it Clone Crunch. We eat a ton of it. The rule is that whoever takes the last bit has to make the next batch. We make both sweet and savory versions. Salty,” he said at her questioning look.
“They’re really good,” Ahsoka said, sampling a few nuts.
Echo and Howzer entered carrying large pans of something wonderful. “That smells amazing,” Ahsoka noted.
“It’s grilled shaak steaks,” Echo answered. “You can grill in the access shaft if the grill is small and has a cover to protect the food.”
“We don’t know who gave us the grill,” Howzer noted. “It appeared one day with a note saying it was for Rex and company. I think it’s from one of the senators who help us on the sly.”
Echo peeled back the cover on the shaak steaks. “I guess you can tell that we’ve gotten into cooking. Gregor had some experience working in a restaurant on Abafar when he had amnesia. The rest of us discovered cooking shows on the holonet and tried a few things, and kept going.”
Rex meanwhile was spreading some kind of oil on a pan of sliced vegetables. He followed that up with a generous coating of salt. “As you know, we Clones never had real food until we left Kamino. Before then, it was tasteless mush or tasteless ration bars. Food was only about supplying energy for battle. So, we were surprised by and appreciated real food whenever we got it, but we never thought about making it ourselves. When we got this holonet viewer,” he nodded over towards the screen with his head, “we discovered whole channels just on food.”
“Can you imagine? Whole channels on nothing but food and cooking!” Gregor added.
“Kaminoans regarded food for the Clones as purely nourishment, nothing more. We discovered that food is really about nourishing the soul as well as the body.” Echo added.
Rex nodded. “That’s right. So, we watched this channel a bit,” Rex continued, “and we discovered Ila Barton. She’s a well-known chef. She explains techniques really well, so we started out doing a few things, and it’s grown from there. Given our background, we appreciate food made from quality ingredients and presented well.”
“And whenever we got a few extra credits, we bought some nice knives and fancy vinegars and spices. Seasoning is key.” Gregor instructed.
Amazed, Ahsoka nibbled on her cheese and watched the warm camaraderie as her hosts busied themselves chopping, putting pans in the oven, heating rolls, taking pans out of the oven, slicing meat, discussing the merits of marinade, etc. Ahsoka looked to the side where Echo and Rex were working. She wandered over.
“What is this?”
“We’re plating,” Echo explained. “We’re arranging the food on each plate in an attractive way. It makes meals more enjoyable. I have a mixture of ground pilé nuts and oil, and I spread some on each plate in a circle. Gregor then sets a piece of steak in the circle. I then finish with a sprinkle of dried herbs around the edges of the plate.”
“And I’m doing the dessert plates. I’ve got pureed blum fruit and with a couple of dots like this,” Rex demonstrated, “I run through them with this toothpick and make a heart. Gregor will then set a slice of his fruit tart beside each heart.”
“Boys, this is amazing. Would you have ever imagined that you’d be into cooking? Watching all of you, you’re, well, adorable.”
The Clones paused and looked at her, identical quizzical expressions on their faces. “I’ll take it,” Gregor decided. Heads nodded in agreement.
Ahsoka laughed. “If the Kaminoans could see you now.”
Rex glanced up from his heart-making. “Well, to be honest, this is rather a way to stick it to the Kaminoans. They thought we weren’t worth good food.”
Echo completed Rex’s thought. “So we go above and beyond to give ourselves good food. Take that, Lama Su!”
“Damn right!” Ahsoka cheered.
“All right everyone, let’s eat!” At Gregor’s announcement, everyone took their seats, and Rex ushered Ahsoka to a place beside his at the head of the table. Platters were passed, and more food appeared on Ahsoka’s plate if it was felt that she hadn’t taken enough.
Ahsoka took a bite of her buttery-soft shaak steak and sighed in contentment. The vegetables, the rolls, the fruit tart, everything was done to perfection.
“It’s not exaggeration to say that this is the best meal I’ve ever had.” Happy Clones beamed in reply.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Gregor responded. “It’s not every day we get to show off our skills with others. Trace and Rafa are big fans, so I’ve set aside plates for them.”
“It’s the least we can do given their hospitality.” Rex agreed.
“Ahsoka, do you do much cooking?” Gregor asked.
“Well, I can make soup with dried beans. They’re pretty cheap, you know.” Heads nodded in agreement.
“What do you use for the broth?”
“Just water.”
“Ohhhh...” Four identical voices responded in total unenthusiasm.
“Any spices?” Gregor asked.
“Um, salt.” The men clearly were not impressed.
“I can also make instant bread. You know, you just add water and the bread pops up from the pan.” This resulted in frowns of consternation.
“I get whatever meat is on sale and cook it in a frying pan. You know as a Togruta, I’ve got to get that protein in.”
Gregor was unimpressed. “Well, there are many ways to cook meat depending on the type and cut. We’ll teach you. What else?”
“I also get those boxes of Cheese n’Noodles and make it.”
Well, that was a noodle too far.
“Absolutely not!” Gregor announced. “We do not allow Cheese n’Noodles around here. We will teach you pasta dishes made with quality cheeses.”
“And with a proper bechemel sauce,” Echo added.
“A what?” Ahsoka asked.
“A creamy milk-based sauce that pairs well with cheese,” Rex answered.
“And no bread from a packet. I’ll teach you how to make real bread,” Howzer announced.
“Howzer’s our starter expert. His bread is amazing.” Rex noted.
“Starter?” Ahoka asked.
Howzer beamed. “Starter’s a fermented mixture of flower and water and is used in making great bread.” Heads nodded in confirmation. “We’ll teach you all about it.”
Conversation shifted to a few polite questions on what Ahsoka had been up to the last few years and then turned to reminiscing about past missions.
“...and they lifted me with the Force, no notice mind you, and threw me over the wall! They caught me, but I screamed the whole way down.” Rex laughed. “Remember that?” Rex looked over at Ahsoka.
“Yeah.” she replied with a slight smile and took a bite of food. The conversation moved on to Echo’s re-telling of mischief he and Fives got up to.
Later, Rex looked over to Ahoska, “Commander here clapped back at Skywalker about why she had to be the slave. He gave some nonsense answer about his skills with the ladies, right?” he asked, looking over to her.
“Yeah,” she said again with a slight smile, and took a bite of Gregor’s heavenly fruit tart. Hiding behind mouthfuls of food kept her out the reminiscing conversation. Rex regarded her for a second then moved on.
After a few more stories, Howzer remarked, “That reminds me, I’ll check on the offsite tomorrow. I’ll take some supplies over.”
“The offsite,” Rex explained to Ahsoka, “is an empty warehouse in the industrial area. A senator sympathetic to the Clones is letting us use it as a way station for Clones before we relocate them. We also take their chips out there if need be, although, we’re thinking about moving our med bay and medical droid to the Remora so we can make a fast getaway if we need to.”
“So instead of hosting Clones here in the garage, you take them there?”
“Right. At first, we brought everyone here but worried that we were disrupting Trace’s business and didn’t want any suspicion to fall on her. It also seemed safer to separate our living space from our, shall we say, work space. That’s also where we park the Remora. So far, it’s worked out really well.”
_____
After dinner, Rex and company proudly showed Ahsoka the area they had set up for her in a nearby corner of the garage. With Trace’s approval and help, they set up what had been a bunk from a bunk bed and scooted over a couple of tall metal shelves. Loading them with boxes, they created a third wall. With a shower curtain and rod, they created a door. A small table and lamp were positioned by the head of the bed, which was made up with the bedding from her small apartment after she had left the order. On a corner of the table stood a small vase with fresh flowers.
“That’s a welcome gift from Trace,” Rex informed her. “We’re still looking for another table to make you a desk. Not to worry, we’ll find one. Right here, you can put your clothes and things,” Rex indicated to a couple of empty spots on the shelves, “as for the bed, we liberated some bunk beds and supplies from an abandoned outpost. Oh, you can put your things in this bathroom,” he noted, pointing to the nearby bathroom. “We all share both bathrooms, but thought this could also be the girls’ room.”
‘You found an abandoned outpost?”
“Yeah, on Barton-4. I had been there with Clone Force 99,” Echo explained, “so we all went back to see what was left over.”
“I don’t know if the Empire was planning on going back, but we found a lot of supplies including the surgical bay we use now and a medical droid. ” Rex explained. “We loaded the Remora with bunks, linens, and other supplies. It’s strange, or wasteful, that the Empire left all that in an unguarded base.”
“So what do you think?” Echo asked Ahsoka, looking around at her set-up.
Ahsoka looked at the nearly identical faces eager to see her reaction to their efforts. “Boys, this is great. I really appreciate it. It’s a nice touch, giving me my own area. Thank you.”
That thrilled them to no end. Happy Clones stood tall and proud at her praise.
____
After that, the group settled in to watch their favorite holovid. Ahsoka soon learned that they didn’t want any show involving war. They did, though, want their favorite celebrity chef, Ila Barton. Ahsoka sat back and watched their enthusiasm for the sautéed squid Ila was making. Ahsoka also learned that they had big feelings - big feelings - for the popular show, Galaxy Cookoff.
Echo: “Nope, she’s beaten the eggs too much. Those are stiff peaks, not soft ones,” Echo pointed out to Ahsoka.
Rex: “Look at that. The meat’s not brown enough. Ila says the flavor’s in the browning.
Gregor: “Nope, he let the cake cool in the pan too long. No wonder it’s sticking to the sides.”
Howzer: “I’ve never thought to use blum fruit in marinade. We’ll have to try that.” Nods of heads all around.
While the cooking commentary continued, Ahsoka fixed herself another cup of caf and wandered out to the landing pad. She gazed up at the vast expanse of the access shaft to the lower levels and the bright dot of the opening at the top. The shaft grew increasingly dim the lower one went, much like the fading dreams of dwellers below. Ships glided past one another, all together in the passage, yet lives never touching.
Ahsoka looked up at the round openings of the piping system on the shaft wall.
I’m not going to take the fall for something I didn’t do!
Wish me luck.
The roar of a neglected dampening system jarred Ahsoka back to the present as a junker sputtered past. Painful memories were interrupted by a comforting mixture of warmth, strength, and protectiveness in the Force.
“Hey, Rex,” she said, not bothering to turn around.
“Hey. You got quite there during dinner.” Rex settled in by her.
“Oh, I was just eating. Dinner was amazing. I hope I didn’t put a damper on things.”
“Oh no, you were fine. Maybe I just know you too well. You were thinking that the good ole days weren’t always so good?”
“You know, most days, I’m neutral about my time in the war. I remember certain troopers fondly, but overall, I’m neutral, although on some days, I just think all my efforts were wasted. I worked so hard, and I tried so hard, and it was all ruined. I just try not to think on it.”
Rex turned to face her. “Ahsoka, what happened to you shouldn’t have happened, but the truth is it did happen. It’s also equally true that you performed many brave, and crazy,” he said with a chuckle, “deeds in the war. You saved many troopers, yours truly included, remember? All that is also true. Don’t let Offee or Tarkin, or the Council for that matter, take that from you. That truth belongs to you, and you earned your men’s loyalty and admiration. Think on that.”
“Thank you, Rex. You always know what to say.”
“Practice gained from consoling troopers.”
“Yeah. You were good at that.”
“You too, kid.”
Rex turned to look up at the shaft with her. After a moment, Ahsoka said, “Rex, Echo told me about Tantis. I’m sorry you didn’t get to go on that mission. He told me what it meant to you.”
Regret briefly flitted across Rex’s face. “The important thing is that the captives were freed and the base was destroyed. Yeah, I was disappointed, but I have to remember what’s important. My ego is not it.”
“What are your goals now with your squad?”
“I’m trying to figure that out. There will always be Clones who need help, for some time at least. Clones who need help with their chips or relocating, and then there’s the Empire. I see the need to strike at the Empire, but I’m not delusional enough to think that we can be effective at our size. I used to think we could, but not anymore. At least that’s what I tell myself.”
“I think you’re right. Until a larger rebellion grows, and I’m sure it will, lashing out at the Empire now would just be a wasted effort.”
“That’s what I was thinking. I’m not happy about it, mind you, but I, we, have to be realistic. I’ve been a soldier for so long, but I have to shift my mindset to new ways. It’s challenging.”
“I’ve been there, Rex, you’ll do fine. You’ve got all of us, and together, we’ll find our way as a squad. Oh yeah, I’m in your squad.”
Rex chuckled. “You’d better be!”
“I’ll help out when I can and where I can. The Empire can’t know that a Force-user is involved.”
“Agreed. Now, what are your goals?”
“I guess I’m trying to figure that out too. Not to sound weird, but I see two goals: an inner goal, and an outer goal. My inner goal is something to do with the past, and I’m still trying to put my finger on what that is. My outer goal is what to do after college. College gives me some time to figure that out. College will end one day, though, and I’ll have to earn a living somehow.”
“Inner goals and outer goals; I like that. We all have a past we have to reconcile with.”
“Yeah.” Ahsoka thought for a moment. “You know, Rex, we fought for so long, when do we just get to live?”
“Good question, particularly for us Clones. We were trained to fight but not how to survive.”
“They thought you wouldn’t make it out of the fight.”
“And many of us did.”
The pair turned to look back out on the access shaft. “Rex, was it worth it, as a Clone? The fight for the Republic given the rise of the Empire?”
Rex thought for a moment. “It has to be worth it. I can’t think that our efforts and our very existence were all for nothing. It’s not lost on me, though, that we won and lost the war.”
____
Getting ready for bed, Ahsoka regarded the bedroll she hauled from Taris. Partially unrolling it revealing a vase that she usually had artificial flowers in. Inside the vase wrapped in black cloth were her lightsabers, hidden there for almost two years. Ahsoka shook her head and smirked at the thought that Barriss did have one idea right.
Ahsoka carefully unwrapped each lightsaber, the grip familiar in her hands. Ahsoka smiled, remembering Anakin returning them to her right before Mandalore. This called up an earlier conversation.
After Bo-Katan stormed out in aggravation, Ahsoka regarded Anakin. She really should have followed Bo-Katan back to the shuttle.
“Well, that went well, considering,” he said.
“You too certainly haven’t changed.”
“Is that a bad thing? Come on, I have something to show you.”
“Anakin, I’m sorry. Look, I am profoundly grateful for you saving me. I always will be, believe me, but I have issues with how it all went down, and I can’t get past this. I’m going back to the shuttle. You can let us know when you hear back from the Council. I don’t want to see anyone.” Ahsoka turned and moved towards the door.
“Ahsoka! A moment of your time, please? Plo Koon told me what you said about the search for you. I have a whole long list of things I should have done differently, including how I should have noticed how off Barriss was. I wish I could have protected you from her. Once we’re underway to Mandalore, let’s sit and talk, please? I want to discuss it all with you, and I want to hear what you’ve been doing. Like Yoda, Plo Koon, and Obi-Wan, and everyone else, I hope you come back, but I will fully support whatever you choose to do. I will always be your friend. Please?”
Ahsoka regarded Anakin. He radiated regret in the Force. “Fine,” she nodded. “We’ll talk. Maybe there were some things I should have done differently too.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. Like Master Plo, I don’t blame you for anything. You panicked, and yeah, I can see how you’d think I wanted you to leave your cell and be off on some wild adventure. That was our everyday life, right?” This got a slight smile out of Ahsoka. “It’s just…just that I wish you had trusted me enough to stop running. I wanted to help you. I was always on your side, but you just kept on running.”
“Anakin, yes, I panicked. The sirens and the shooting made me panic more, my Togruta fight or flight response. But as for you, it was the system. I didn’t trust the system. Fox had already said I was guilty, so I saw no way by going back there. The system was totally against me. You chasing me with soldiers was you being part of that system. That was the side you chose. I had no choice but to keep running and find the killer myself.”
“Snips, I never chose a side against you. What would you have had me do?”
“Be yourself. I expected the normal, rule-bending Anakin doing something totally insane and saving the day, as usual. Come on Anakin, you know that’s a reasonable expectation. You found an inconvenient time to play by the rules, Skyguy.”
Anakin nodded and looked down for a moment. “Yeah. Between you and Fives, I’ve learned a lot about the system,” he said with a hint of bitterness. “Snips, we can talk more about all this later, and I do want to go over it. Remember, I only wanted to help you.”
“I know; we can talk, once we’re underway.”
“Good. Now, the boys never wavered in their support for you. They’ve missed you terribly.” He gestured to the door with his head. “Please? It won’t be uncomfortable for you, I promise.”
Ahsoka smiled at the memory of the boys with their helmets painted with her markings. Such support after the whole nightmare healed a small part of her heart. What came after was beyond their will and didn’t diminish the memory in the least.
____
Shortly after Ahsoka settled in to her “room” at the garage, Trace and Rafa declared that it lacked decor. The three proceeded to hang the type of string lights that Ahsoka once had in her dorm room, the mini lights that gave off a comforting glow. While working, they were joined by the men who came to help, and by help they meant winding all of string lights around Echo and offering to dangle him from the ceiling. After the ladies got Echo untangled, they and Echo sat and supervised while the rest of the men climbed ladders and manned the staple gun until they had hung the lights in a crisscross pattern several feet above Ahsoka’s bunk.