Only Love can Save them

Chapter 6

Rex stood in front of the herded colonists. Men, women, and children were all rounded up in a circle in front of a large clearing. They were confused as the stormtroopers pressed them forward with the blasters and several let out noises of protest. "All of the colonists are rounded up, Admiral," Rex said through his helmet comm. 

"Copy that, Captain," Rask replied. Almost immediately, a large three-winged Imperial shuttle descended from the Star Destroyer orbiting the planet. It landed and opened with a hiss of steam as the Inquisitor exited, followed by two Death Troopers. 

"Well done troopers," the Fourth Sister said as her black cloak flickered behind her. She removed her lightsaber from the hilt on her back and held it relaxed in her gloved hand. "Yes, this will do to send a message to the rebels."

A young female Togruta let out a soft cry of pain as her father held her close. A flash of recognition crossed Rex's mind. Something from his past.... a Togruta's scream. He couldn't focus on the question at that time- he had to follow his orders. 

The Fourth Sister wrenched a feeble male from the crowd with tall blue and white striped montrals. "Governor Roshti," she said pleasantly, before going to a sharp, echoing, hiss. "Where are the rebels?"

"I-I don't know," Roshti said, holding his hands up. "Please."

"You lie," the Inquisitor said, igniting half of her lightsaber. She raised it and stabbed it through the old Togruta's stomach. Screams echoed from the crowd, some in anger, some in fear, and some in pain. 

"Troopers, execute all of the colonists," the Inquisitor ordered as the Togruta shrieked. People begging for them to not do it, mothers holding their children close and families hugging each other tightly. 

Rex raised his blasters, his hands trembling. His fingers shook as he rested it on the trigger. "Ready. Three, two," the Fourth Sister said as she shoved the body of Roshni into the pile of colonists and stood outside the circle of stormtroopers. "One. Execute."

Rex closed his eyes and fired. 

Good soldiers follow orders. Good soldiers follow orders. It was louder in his head than it had ever been before. His helmet couldn't even come close to shielding his ears from the desperate screams. A tear slid down his cheek. 

"Good," the Inquisitor's voice burned through his thoughts.  "Burn the village and leave a squadron of stormtroopers and TIEs if the rebels come."

"Yes, ma'am," Cody said. Rex hadn't even known his brother was there. There was the clatter of boots and the hiss of a lightsaber extinguishing as the Fourth Sister left. 

He realized what he had done. It took all his will not to fall to the ground as he shakily began to walk in formation with the other stormtroopers. Orders were digested in his brain, but they went to the back of his mind as his thoughts drifted away. A full memory came to him. Not an incomplete scrap of one, but a real one. 

A female Togruta dressed in a red-brown tunic, black leggings with diamond cut-outs, and a glimmering Akul-tooth headdress stood next to Rex, her bright blue eyes shining. The grey walls of the cruiser they were in were drab and the bright colors of the Togruta colonists stood out.

"My people owe you their lives, Rex," the Togruta girl said as they walked along the hangar. 

"You were the real hero, Soka. Your people should be proud to have someone like you protecting them," Rex replied as the Togruta blushed. 

"Either way, the colonists of Shili are safe from the Separatists and hopefully from most threats in the future," the girl said firmly. 

"Snips! Governor Roshti wants to talk with you!" called a man with messy brown hair dressed in brown robes from the other side of the hangar.

"Bye, Rexie. See you around," the Togruta said, before jogging off. 

Rex didn't let the memory fully affect him like the last one. He just went with it and told himself that he's think about it later on when the Empire was trying to catch the rebels. 

Soka. I called that girl Soka. he realized all of a sudden. A nickname. Not her real name. Her real name was... kriff what was it? 

He knew it. It was stored in the back of his mind for years, almost taken away by the inhibitor chip, but he knew it. 

"A" something. A...Ah. C'mon Rex- think! What was it? 

It came to him in a sudden flash. 

Ahsoka. 

A/N: So Rex knows Ahsoka's first name now. What do you think will happen next? Comment your thoughts down below. 

See ya.

-EmeraldMoon