In Command (#1 Post-Order 66 Series)

In Command - Part 23

Relief flooded through his mind, and a huge smile spread across his face as he wrapped her in a strong hug. "Thank you," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "Thank you so much."

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The sun was just cresting the horizon when Senna and Rex approached the Marauder with the last supply crates to be loaded onboard. Tech was already running his pre-flight checkouts as Senna stepped aboard, her lightsaber hanging at her side. Rex was right behind her, his armor gleaming in the sun. Senna had still been a little on edge this morning, but it wasn't clear to Rex if that was due to the armor he was wearing or something else. She'd jumped when he'd come up behind her to kiss her on the cheek while they were getting ready and had left teeth marks in her bottom lip once already. He hung back, watching her as she walked up the Marauder's steps to greet Wrecker and Echo. I hope she's ready for this.

It would take them a little over a rotation to get to Bracca. Rex listened to Senna toss and turn in the bunk above him while they tried to sleep. He slipped out of the bunk he was in and stood, turning so that his face was at eye level with her. She had her eyes closed, but her brows were furrowed and she was sweating, her breathing coming in uneven gasps. She was whispering something that he couldn't hear, so he leaned in closer.

"No...no...please...no...REX NO!"

Her eyes were wide as she shot to a sitting position, tumbling out of the bunk and into Rex's arms. He managed to haphazardly catch her, holding up her upper half by her armpits as he stepped backwards. He managed to get a knee underneath him and was momentarily grateful he'd kept the lower half his armor on to sleep as the knee plate caught the brunt of the force. Wrecker peered down from the highest bunk as Echo, Tech, and Hunter came pouring into the back of the ship.

"Everything alright back here?" Hunter asked.

Rex gently pushed Senna back to her feet, holding her hands in his. Echo nudged Hunter, who smirked at the scene before them, Rex on one knee in front of Senna. "Now Rex, I hardly think this is the appropriate time for-"

Rex looked down and realized how it looked, leaping to his feet and rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, shut it."

Wrecker snickered and rolled back over while Hunter and Tech turned to walk back up to the front of the ship. Echo took one last look over his shoulder and saw the wild look in Senna's eyes as Rex pulled her to him. He met Rex's eyes and mouthed Is she alright? Rex nodded, and Echo understood he wanted privacy with her to calm her from whatever nightmare she'd experienced. They may have teased him, but everyone had heard her yell, and they all understood what had caused it. He followed his brothers back towards the cockpit, leaving Senna and Rex with an already snoring Wrecker.

Rex pulled her back to look at her. "Another dream?" he whispered. She nodded. "Order 66?" She shook her head, and he could feel her shaking under his hands. "Senna, what did you see?"

"You. And...a red lightsaber pressed against your neck."

Rex felt his stomach tighten. It's just a bad dream. She's never had visions of the future before. It's just a bad dream. Death was something he'd looked in the face for most of his existence, and it no longer frightened him, but the thought of Senna watching him die did. The thought of his final moments being something that would haunt her forever brought a lump to his throat, and he pulled her closer, whispering comforts into her ear. "You're alright. You just had a nightmare. I'm right here." The unspoken fear hung between them as he pulled her to him and rocked her. What if it's not just a dream?

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"Set her down there, Tech. That should keep us hidden from view as we come up on the destroyer."