In Command (#1 Post-Order 66 Series)

In Command - Part 2

"I'm right here." He turned to see her, standing there behind him, unarmed, and with a shock from the droid, his entire world went dark.

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"GG, THE DOOR!"

The sound of Ahsoka's voice was distant and he felt as if he was dreaming. He willed his eyes open and was surrounded by a soft blue light. Suddenly, everything came into focus and it was as if the room had a hole punched in it, sucking all of the air out.

Ahsoka. The order. Danger. She's in danger!

Instinctively grabbing for his blasters, he rocketed to a sitting position on the med pod table, gasping for air. He was himself again. He had control.

Ahsoka was leaning against the end of the med table deflecting blast after blast of the clone troopers attempting to breach the door. One of her lightsabers flew from her hand from a direct hit, but still she swung with her remaining weapon. Rex swallowed the lump in his throat and fired multiple blasts at the orange helmeted troopers, knocking them from the door long enough for it to slam shut.

She turned slowly, evaluating him, attempting to see if he was himself. "Rex, are you ok?" she had asked softly.

"Yeah kid. Yeah, I'm ok."

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He had never been ok. The intrusion into his mind was something Rex would never forget. The awareness, the betrayal, the hatred, the anger. He had heard the Jedi speak of what it took to fall to the dark side, and after Order 66, he had always assumed that was as close to what it must feel like as he would ever get. He shuddered recalling how they had buried his brothers. He had held it together until they had gotten to Jesse's body. Rex wasn't religious, but he often prayed or hoped that in his final moments, maybe Jesse had not felt pain. If he had been aware of what was happening, that he was turning against his friend and was unable to stop it, perhaps death had come as a relief to him, knowing he wouldn't be able to hunt the people he cared about.

Rex was ripped from his thoughts as his shoulder was bumped by plastoid. "Watch it," a modulated voice snapped at him from beneath a stormtrooper helmet. Rex muttered some form of apology and moved away from the door he'd been standing near. He rubbed his eyes in frustration. He could really have used at least half a cup of palatable caf this morning. The sun was beginning to sink, so he made his way back through the market, searching stalls for sacks of sugar and pasta that he could bring home to Senna. He hoped her day had been moderately more successful.

As he was scooping a handful of credits out of his pouch to pay the merchant, a large hologram illuminated the square. Rex finished paying and slowly meandered towards the crowd that was gathering in order to hear whatever announcement was coming.

The enlarged figure of an imperial officer illuminated the night sky. "Citizens of Lothal! It is with great pleasure that we announce the event to celebrate the first ever Empire Day to commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of our galactic empire!"

Rex felt the anger rise in his chest and swallowed it with effort as the crowd around him cheered. They didn't know. How could they? They only knew what they'd been told. He was careful to continue staring at the hologram while lightly clapping so as not to betray his internal seething.

The hologram continued, "Events to celebrate will commence tomorrow with a formal gathering at the town hall. All citizens are invited to attend to meet and honor your Imperial government officials and the soldiers that protect and serve you every day. As always, please bring your chain codes so that attendance may be tracked for future events! We look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening. Long live the empire!"