Saga of the Bridgers-Year 2

Chapter 4: Always two there are

Two weeks had passed. Rex had been hanging around the Ghost quite a bit, only spending time talking with Ahsoka when she wasn't busy planning strategies with Sato and Darvos, or around the galaxy looking for answers about Darth Vader.

Nonetheless, the clone had attracted the interest of both Jaral and Ezra, as they sought to understand what it means to be a soldier. Jaral was definitely the most interested of the two and she and Rex would spend even hours talking about past battles, analyzing the strategies, the tactics, but also, the girl would learn about sacrifice and the harsh truth about how a single life counts nothing in the grand scheme of things that is war.

Ezra, on his part, was already too much invested into being a Jedi to listen everything Rex told him, though he didn't dislike the stories about his clone brothers. He could see some values such as honor, camaraderie and self-sacrifice that he had grown pretty fond of since he joined the Ghost.

The siblings also started to spend a couple of hours a day in the workshop, trying to replicate some blueprints from the Milky Way that Jinx had presented them along the years. Even during their time on the Ghost there wasn't much time to go around and scavenge for the necessary parts, since they were too busy stealing to survive. Now, however, they had the Phoenix Cell to help with the sustenance. While the siblings were sent on supply runs even on their own from time the time, now they had the time to exploit a stop on a spaceport to look for additional components that they might need.

As she expected, Jaral was sent from time to time with the Phoenix Squadron on patrol or reconnaissance missions aboard her fighter, which she still couldn't find the time to customize, but at least this missions were useful to keep her skills on the control stick sharp.

The entire crew, except for the siblings, was in the common room. Rex and Zeb were playing dejarik, Sabine was working on her helmet, Hera was relaxing on the wooden bench right next to the holotable and Kanan was inspecting his lightsaber. Their last task had been completed four days before and so far they hadn't had any other assignment. The Ghost spent most of its time attached to the command ship of Phoenix Cell, in order to limit the usage of fuel.

While Jaral spent most of her time aboard the Liberator, Ezra was barely seen around in the last few days, except for the meals, and Sabine was actually a bit frustrated because he only told her that he was working on a project, but didn't want to risk any leak. Sabine had told him that she could keep a secret, alright, but the boy had just smirked and said 'Not this one, you can't.'

The remembrance of that smug face actually made her press the screwdriver so deep that she almost grazed the paint off the helmet.

From the dejarik table, Rex made a quick laugh of triumph as he won the game.

"Chalk another one up for the clone."

Zeb laughed in embarrassment and passed his hand on his head.

"Takes more than brawn to win this game, big guy." he explained courteously.

"Yeah, maybe I let you win, old guy." Rex retorted joking.

Then the door beside them hissed and opened, letting Jaral enter. Her armor on, her helmet dematerialized while the right hand was holding a datapad.

"Ok, fellas, we have a new mission. But first of all, has anybody seen my stupid brother?" she asked not too nervously. "I can't find him anywhere and he's not picking my calls."

"Welcome to the club." Sabine exclaimed sarcastically.

"He has been quite absent these last days, but he never tells us where he goes." Kanan added with a hint of worry.