In Command (#1 Post-Order 66 Series)

In Command - Part 22

Bail reached out and squeezed his arms. "I am very sorry for your loss, Admiral. Please allow us to find the body for you so that he may receive the proper arrangements and so you may focus on your inspection. Commander Antilles will lead the search."

"Thank you," the admiral nodded, signaling for his troops to follow him.

Reaching the kitchens, Rex noted Senna sitting on the counter, sipping tea. Her eyes were red and swollen, but she was no longer sobbing. Breha Organa stood at the window and turned to look at him when she heard his footsteps. Rex went to remove his helmet, but Breha stormed forward. "Leave your helmet on, Captain. You've already put all of us at risk with this foolish stunt," she snapped.

Senna reached out to gently grasp her arm. "I'm terribly sorry, your highness. This was my fault. Wen Fisk was the Imperial officer on Lothal that I worked for information. He recognized me and was going to report it to the Empire."

Breha whirled on her. "Was he successful?"

"No, ma'am. He was not."

The queen ran her hand through her hair, a small amount of stress trickling away from her shoulders. "Well, there's at least that."

"It sounds as though we should be thanking them," a voice boomed from behind them. Rex turned to see the Senator standing in the doorway. He walked over to Senna. "Are you hurt?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No sir. I was just playing my part. It was the captain who did what needed to be done. I was the one who put us at risk, and for that I am truly sorry."

"You had no way of knowing," Organa said. "Captain, please escort Specialist Aven back to her quarters. I don't believe the Imperials will worry much about anything beyond the inspection and the recovery of Captain Fisk's body tonight. I have already ordered the other men back to their quarters as well. We will discuss any necessary next steps in the morning."

Rex nodded and gently took Senna's arm as she hopped off the counter. They walked in silence all the way back to their quarters, Senna staring blankly ahead. Checking up and down the hallway and seeing no one around, Rex punched in the code to her room, pushing her inside and following behind her. Once in the privacy of the room, he pulled his helmet off, pulling her into him. She limply stood there, not returning his embrace. "I'm sorry," he whispered after a few moments. "I couldn't let you do that to yourself."

"I've killed before."

"Never someone unarmed."

"How would you know?"

"Because I know you." Pulling back, he put his hands on her shoulders, searching her eyes. "Am I wrong?"

She met his gaze and slowly shook her head. "He would have killed us all, and I couldn't do it. I'm weak."

"No, Senna. No, you're not."

"How could you kill him, Rex? Why you and not me?"

"Because," he whispered, "I was made to kill. That was the purpose I was bred for."

Senna inhaled sharply, tears prickling at the corner of her eyes. Quietly, she stepped back into his arms, wrapping her fingers in the fabric of his shirt that she could reach under the armor he was wearing. Her cheek rested against the cold metal chest plate. "You're so much more than that, Rex. You're not just one thing."

He sighed into her hair. "Maybe not, but I'm good at that one thing, and if it meant keeping you from feeling pain and struggling, then I'd do it again in a heartbeat. He hurt you and threatened you, and that I can't forgive."