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Rex watched behind the trees as the young man lit the pyre, its flames engulfing the black body that was Vader. The man stepped back and watched the smoke rise into the sky, his silhouette a stark contrast to the red and orange flames. Rex didn’t know whether to leave or to go with him. Ultimately, he didn’t have to decide because the man spoke without turning around to face him.
“You can come out, you know?”
Rex was startled in surprise, and he walked out of the shadows of the trees and moved to stand by the person’s side, hands clasped behind his back.
“What’s your name?” He asked, still facing the fire.
“It’s Rex, sir.”
From his side profile, Rex could see that the man had a small smile on his face before turning to see him clearly. Rex almost gasped out loud. Those were Anakin’s eyes that were looking back at him. Anakin’s sandy blonde hair that was illuminated by the fire in front of them.
“I’m Luke Skywalker,” he told Rex. Rex could only nod in a daze, because suddenly it felt like he was back in the beginning of the Clone Wars, when he was first introduced to his General.
“I’m Anakin Skywalker. You’re the Captain, right?”
“Yes sir. I’m CT-7567, Captain of the 501st Legion.”
“Do you have a name?”
“I’m sorry, sir?”
“A name. Not an ID number. What’s your name?”
“It’s Rex, sir. Captain Rex.”
Anakin smiled, warmth filling his bright blue eyes. “Rex, I think we’ll get along quite well. How about winning this war, you say?”
“Rex?”
Rex blinked, snapping himself out of the memory. Right. He was still standing in front of his General’s son. Anakin’s son.
“Sorry sir. You remind me a lot of your father.”
Luke immediately brightens up. “You knew my father?”
“Yes sir.” Rex smiles, “We fought together throughout the entire Clone Wars, sir.”
“Please, call me Luke.”
“No titles, Rex. We’re friends. Just Anakin will do.”
“Of course…Luke.”
Luke smiles at him again, and the sight reminded Rex of Anakin so much it made his heart ache. To wish and travel back in time.
“Luke!” They both jumped as a female voice started towards them.
“Luke, there you are. Han and I have been looking for you.” The woman stepped into the light of the fire, and Rex could see her long brown hair, sharp eyes and chin, and was struck by the memory of Padme Amidala. He turns back to Luke. “Is this your sister?”
Instead, it’s the woman who answers. “Yes. I’m Leia and this is my twin brother, Luke.”
Rex smiles and nods. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too. You are…?”
“Rex.”
She nods. “Alright, well, sorry to intrude, but I need to take Luke back to the party.”
“That’s alright.” Rex glances at Luke, who was still looking at him. “We can talk more later, kid. Have fun.”
Luke inclines his head, then heads off with his sister back to the Ewok’s village. Rex finds a bench and sits down, staring at the burning pyre.
“Kriff, Anakin. Twins?”
“I know, right? Crazy.”
Rex whips his head around so fast he thought his neck would fly off. Because that voice…no. Anakin was dead. ‘But then how is he sitting next to me now?’ His brain unhelpfully asks. And to his left, was his general, looking just as he had during the Clone Wars. Curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and defying the ways of life like he always did because he is somehow sitting next to him right now when he’s supposed to be dead.
“G-general?”
Anakin gives him a small smile. Was it just Rex or did he look shy?
“Hello, Rex.”
Rex didn’t know what to say. So many years of things unsaid. Rex had so many questions swirling around in his head. So many emotions. Betrayal, anger, sadness. “Why’d you do it?” He finally blurts out.
Anakin looked away, his gaze sad. “Because I was too afraid of losing people. Too afraid to let go. I was obsessed with keeping everyone I loved alive, not knowing that would be how I lost everything.
“I did whatever he asked, because he’d promised me a way to save Padme. Something the Council never gave me. I was desperate. I didn’t want her to die.” He smiled wryly, “How ironic it is, that I protected her from everything but myself.”
Rex was speechless. “But still… After she died, why didn’t you just go against the Emperor? Why did you keep murdering?”
Anakin glanced sideways at him. “Killing the Emperor isn’t that easy, Rex. And I thought I was too far gone to go back. Every Jedi you ask will tell you that once you turn Dark, there’s no chance to turn back. No second chances, no redemptions. I gave up on myself. It wasn’t until Luke that I realized all I had to do was let go.”
Rex opened his mouth to say something but Anakin beat him to it. “I’m sorry, Rex. For everything.” He fiddled with the edge of his cloak. “I didn’t mean for everything to go so far. It may sound like an excuse but it’s the truth. I only wanted to save Padme, but then Order 66 happened and everything changed. I didn’t want to kill people. I really didn’t. You asked me before why I didn’t just kill Palpatine. I tried, Rex. Believe me, I tried,” Anakin shuddered, “and I failed. Every single time. I learned to never try something so foolish ever again. He wouldn’t let me leave and he punished me for even thinking of it.”
Force, Rex knew he was telling the truth. He’s still angry for everything the Empire did, but he hates Anakin a little less now. He hasn’t forgiven him, though. Doesn’t know if he ever will.
Anakin seemed to read his thoughts. “I know everything I did was wrong,” he said, staring quietly into his lap, “and I know I don’t deserve forgiveness, but I just wanted to talk.”
Rex nods, not knowing what else to say. He clears his throat, “thanks for explaining yourself. It…puts things into perspective.”
Skywalker gives him a tentative smile. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. After all, you should be celebrating right now.”
Rex nods again. “Goodbye, Anakin.”
“Oh and one more thing,” Anakin calls while he starts to fade, “watch over them will you?”
“Of course, general.”
After Anakin disappears back to wherever he came from, Rex looks back into the pyre, where the flames were starting to die down, and then up to the endless sea of stars above. He would tell Luke and Leia all the stories, he decided. Stories of their father during the Clone Wars. Of his fearlessness and loyalty and passion. He would tell them stories of their mother, Padme. Of her resolve and determination in the Senate. Of the clones’ battles. Of Ahsoka Tano, whom he’s sure is out there in the galaxy somewhere. Yes, he would tell them. After all, stories are all he’s got left. Memories of the past. But he can also make new memories with them. He’s still got a couple years left in him.
Rex gets up from the makeshift bench, cursing his back as it cracks when he walks stiffly back through the woods. He doesn’t look back at Vader’s smoking body. And heads towards the celebrations with the cute little teddy bears, where he’s sure there are people waiting for him.