Captain Rex: Never a Time

Chapter 3: Dooku's Escape

The Council had finally tracked down Count Dooku. It was Anakin's role to be his bait. Once his prisoner, Obi-wan would rescue him and the two would take down Dooku. On the outside, Ahsoka and I would lead the 501st on an assault on the ship. It seemed like a pretty good plan; I could sense something would go wrong like always.

Obi-wan took Anakin's lightsaber, to make it "more convincing". I think Obi-Wan did it to be funny, but I didn't say anything. He never went down without a fight. The first part of the plan went smooth, Anakin was able to get captured and Obi-Wan was able to rescue him. The 501st were able to start their attack on the enemy cruiser. The next part: however, is where everything went wrong. Dooku was able to escape and Anakin and Obi-Wan followed. They both crash landed on a nearby planet.

"Great, guess we should finish these tinnies and then go scoop them up. Hopefully they didn't lose Dooku." Ahsoka chimed. The enemy ship was nothing more than a ball of fire when the 501st made their way to the planet to scoop up their fearless leader. When the crew landed, Ahsoka and I walked out. Reaching out with the Force, we sensed them in a nearby cave-system. We could also sense the danger they were in, and the large life-form near them. "I got this," Ahsoka said, using the Force to move boulders that were blocking the entrance. Anakin and Obi-Wan fell forwards, gasping for air.

"Looks like I got here just in time," Ahsoka chimed, crossing her arms at the two.

"What do you mean 'just in time'? " Anakin retorted, putting his hands on his sides.

"You were in very big trouble!"

"Trouble?" Obi-Wan asked, stepping forward to cover him and Anakin's tails, "we were simply searching for Count Dooku." He made a side glance to Anakin.

"Yeah, we have the situation well under control, my little Padawan."

"Oh, I see, so which part of this situation did you have under control? The blocked entrance, the poison gas, or that Gundark behind you?" She asked pointing behind them.

"Gundark?" Anakin said.

"Oh, you mean the one too far away to worry about?" Obi-Wan said in his normal sarcastic tone with Anakin. Everyone looked behind the two to see a massive Gundark coming towards us.

"Block the entrance," Ahsoka ordered the troops standing by. They were able to seal the Gundark behind a new blocked entrance. I didn't want to interfere in this moment, it was too funny having young Ahsoka more mature then both her master and his former master. Turns out, even through all that, Count Dooku escaped.

"You let him get away?" Ahsoka cried.

"No, not 'get away' exactly, just..." he trailed off thinking of a good excuse. Obi-Wan had come to stand beside me now to watch the show. Anakin glanced at his former master, "chime-in anytime." Ahsoka scowled at him.

"Oh no, I'm enjoying this far too much." Obi-Wan said, laughing with me. We all got aboard the transport and went back to the cruiser. Ahsoka was fussing the two the whole time. Once we got aboard the ship, Rex was there to be informed. Anakin and Ahsoka went off, still arguing. Obi-Wan followed behind, hiding a smirk behind his hand. Rex looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Come on Rex, I'll fill you in." We headed to the bridge, recounting what had happened on the planet below.

"Man, this could've been the opportune time to catch Dooku," he sighed. We walked onto the bridge to find Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi-Wan already there. The two had stopped fighting and now were looking at a holo-map to determine where he could have gone. "Do you think we'll find him again?"

"There's always hope, Rex. Never forget that." The next day, the Council called in, saying pirates had him trapped. Anakin and Obi-Wan were tasked with capturing him.

"And do it right this time," Mace Windu said. "I do not want him slipping through our fingers."

"How did pirates get him before us?" Rex muttered to me, not wanting Anakin to overhear.

"I don't know, but maybe luck is on our side?" I answered. Shoulder to shoulder, we stood across the holo-map as Anakin and Obi-Wan surveyed the area, making sure there wouldn't be any surprises. I was to stay here with Ahsoka and prepare for Dooku's arrival. We needed to ensure he wouldn't slither out of our grasp.

Anakin and Obi-Wan took off on their adventure. Ahsoka went to meditate to calm down before seeing the Count. She didn't want her emotions to take control of her. Rex and I went to check the cells and make sure it was ready. Rex was giving the men who were to watch the cells a stern talking to, making sure they knew the importance of watching this prisoner. I knew we would also watch the Count to ensure he wouldn't use the Force to manipulate the Clones minds.

I told Rex we needed to rest before the Count got here. "We might need our strength. You never know what could happen."

"You're right, but I need to update my reports on this. Mind if I sit in your room again?" We both headed off. I decided to meditate while he worked. Ahsoka was right, there were so many emotions with the Count that it was impossible to feel balance. It took a while to calm myself, but once I did, I opened my eyes. I looked over and Rex had his tablet off, his head down, and was peacefully sleeping. That could not be comfortable, I thought, but I didn't want to wake him. I used the Force to gently lift him, laying him in the bed. Now where would I rest? Turns out, I wouldn't get any. My communicator went off with Ahsoka informing me of Anakin and Obi-Wan's capture.

"So much for rest," Rex muttered.

After the Republic sent Jar Jar, and the whole ordeal went down, Anakin and Obi-Wan arrived empty handed. Looks like we would have to wait another day to capture that slimy Sith.

***Author's note: Hey guys, this chapters a little shorter. When I went through the make the final draft of the last chapter I realized just how long it was. This one's a little shorter to make up for it. I'm gonna post the next chapter and I finished editing! Thanks for reading!***