The Clone Wars: Path of the Force, A Star Wars Story

17

Landing onto N'Divrens went smoothly and the clone troopers quickly found their positions at the edge of a clearing in the dead-tree forest. The trees and dead leaves were quiet as the troops spread out around General Skywalker. Too quiet, Rex thought. Did this planet not have wind?

Rex's commlink sounded and General Kenobi's voice came through.

"Any sign of droids yet?"

"Negative, General. Echo detected droid activation some time ago, but there has been no sign that they've exited the mine."

Rex looked to his General, Anakin Skywalker, kneeling beside him, eyes closed. But, Skywalker did not acknowledge him.

Rex paused for a brief moment then said, "standby, General Kenobi."

"Understood."

Captain Rex was used to the wait before a battle. But for him and many of his men, this was the worst part. Rex could see his men up and down the line shifting positions and adjusting their weapons, trying to stay focused and ready for whatever came out of the forest across the clearing. Rex, himself, alternated between standing and kneeling to keep stiffness at bay.

"We've got movement. 15 degrees straight ahead."

Rex saw Boomer lower his macrobinoculaurs and point to the underbrush of the forest across the clearing. Rex lowered his range finder and saw it. Small, but definitely not the wind. Rex opened his commlink.

"General Kenobi, we have movement outside the mine. Commence air attack."

"Copy that."

Rex pulled out his blaster, pointed it toward the forest and steadied it on his forearm. He held firm even when he saw movement directly beside him. General Skywalker stood up and took a few steps forward. That was nothing new, but he didn't ignite his lightsaber. He just stood there looking across the clearing.

Skywalker activated his commlink.

"Obi-wan do not strike. Copy that? Do not strike."

"Why ever not?"

"Padme's in the forest. Obi-wan pull off the attack."

Rex stood up next to his General. He saw the starfighters fly overhead and cross the clearing. Rex looked to his left and called down his line of troops.

"Hold your fire. Pull up your weapons."

He was just about to call down the other line of troops, when he saw red the flash of a blaster bolt.

"No," Skywalker yelled, reaching out his hand.

Rex saw the line of troopers look at each other and slowly stand up. Some took off their helmets and put down their weapons. Rex looked down for a moment, not sure if he wanted to take a look at the scene across the clearing. But, he had a duty.

Looking up, Rex saw General Skywalker still standing firm, hand outstretched. Rex looked across the glade and felt his heart skip. He had not expected to see this. Rex slowly took off his helmet to make sure he was really seeing this right.

"Did you know he could do that?" Boomer asked.

Rex kept his eyes across the clearing. "No."