Cejanr (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

64

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Anakin gave him a sly smile.

"Rex, why don't you inform Torrent Company that their commander will be back? I imagine they'll all be excited to see her." He suggested. Rex swallowed thickly and nodded, jamming on his helmet and hurrying towards the barracks.

Torrent company had just returned from planetside, thankfully with no casualties or major injuries. Might have had something to do with spending most of the battle clinging to the underside of a bridge.

They all froze midway through dekitting and lounging on the bunks discussing the newest tactics or whatnot as the clearly frazzled captain three open the doors. It took a lot to shake Rex, they all knew it. They were all expecting bad news when he took off his helmet and scanned the room.

"Commander Tano is coming back to meet with Skywalker." He said softly. The room was so quiet it may have well been a shout. Everyone stared at him for a couple more seconds before all chaos broke loose.

"When will she be here?" "How long is she staying?" "We should do something for her!" "Is she leaving again?" "She never even said goodbye." "Let's paint our helmets!" "What about her leaving the jedi?" "Is she going to be our commander again?"

Rex held up his hands. "One at a time! ONE AT A TIME!!" He yelled, having to put on his Captain Voice. Silence fell, and he took a shaking breath. "Alright. I don't know how long she'll be here, or if she's staying, or even if we'll see her."

"That doesn't sound like Commander Tano." Dogma gave a teasing grin. "She'd at least make an effort to see you and try to pass a message on. You always were her favorite." There were good natured chuckles at Rex's expense. Rex huffed a sigh, giving his lieutenant a discrete glare, to which Dogma mouthed 'sorry.'

"I know she has a soft spot for us, but I just want you guys not to get your hopes to high in case something happens. On the other hand," He paused, wondering how much he should tell them about Mandalore. "There is the possibility that a few companies may be assigned to her and a third party to lead a siege against a mutual enemy."

Another bout of chaos ensued. A voice rose above the hubbub to shout out an idea. A raspy, not quite healthy voice.

"What if you painted your buckets for her."

Everyone turned and looked at the newcomer as his slightly too heavy footsteps thudded against the durasteel floor. Rex smiled.

"ARC trooper Echo. Welcome back." Echo laughed.

"Glad to be here and not Jakku, sir. I've got sand everywhere. Look." He twisted the wrist of a mechanical hand where the droid jig had been at an unnatural angle backwards and extending a new jig, as well as dumping a large handful's worth of sand on the ground. He replaced the hand to it's original position.

"I hope to be here long enough to tell Commander Tano hello, but I've already given my report and have my newest assignment to head off to in a couple hours." He said. Rex nodded.

"I'll tell her you say hello if you cannot yourself." He promised. Echo saluted him before leaving the barracks, probably to catch a nap before all the excitement started.

"I think I like his idea." Lieutenant Vaughn spoke up. Others clamored to agree.

"Let's paint the buckets with her face markings!" Yelled Sterling, getting out a paper and sketching a reference. Howl stood in the middle of the room as the rest of his brothers scrambled to find all the orange and white paint.

Rex approached the young shiny. "Something wrong, kid?" He asked. Howl frowned.

"Who's Commander Tano? I mean, what was she like? I haven't heard a lot about her." Rex smiled.