In Command (#1 Post-Order 66 Series)

In Command - Part 14

It had been three rotations since they'd returned from the capital city, and it was as if they were strangers again. Rex spent most days out doing reconnaissance or writing reports in his room on his datapad. Neither of them had made any extra effort to be around each other, and Senna had even taken to changing out the dressing on her wound on her own. A heaviness had fallen over the dwelling, and the distance between them had never felt greater. It didn't help that Rex had reported on Ilum to Senator Organa and no one seemed to be taking it seriously. Overall, the leadership had felt that the concept of harvesting an entire planet's kyber was "far-fetched" and "unlikely to actually occur" due to the resources that would be required, which had only frustrated Rex more.

They still normally sat together for one meal a day as if the refusal to acknowledge a line had been crossed would somehow salvage things, but they normally ate in silence. There was occasionally idle chatter that they'd try and force before Senna would slink off to the shed or up to her office while Rex would go to his room and contemplate their next move. Organa had placed them in a holding pattern while their operation was reviewed. From what it sounded like, they would likely be moved from Lothal before terribly long as the mission had run its course and no other promising intelligence leads had materialized.

The security around Imperial installations had also increased, which made Rex's job harder. Word had travelled quickly about the rebel spy that had been gunned down in the capital, and rumors had flown around every city on the planet. People were speculating on the size of the rebel cell and the threat it posed, and while no one seemed to know anything that could point back to Rex and Senna, the alarm bells being raised had proven to be a large concern for the leadership of the fledgling rebellion.

Rex was torn about the potential looming end of the mission. He didn't know where he'd be placed next or if he'd even get a placement, and after what he'd said to Senna, he doubted it would be with her if she could help it. Her reaction to his confession had made him doubt his certainty that she shared his feelings, and even if she did, it appeared that her determination to take down the Empire outweighed all of that. He never stood a chance, and it tormented him. To distract himself, he'd started searching for his brothers to see if any surviving clones may still be out there. He hadn't found anything concrete yet, but he'd heard rumors that maybe a clone with a cybernetic eye had been spotted in the outer rim, or others that shared his face may have survived, and that was what he began to pour his hope into.

Late one evening, Rex heard a soft knock at his door. "Come in," he grunted, and Senna quietly stepped into the room, the door hissing shut behind her. She stood there silently for a few seconds, finally speaking once she realized he wasn't going to turn to look at her. "So, Zea reached out."

"Oh yeah? What's she want?"

"They've invited us to a dinner party at their place tomorrow night. There'll apparently be some Imperial officials there as well, but a small gathering overall. I think we should go."

"Do you know which officials?"

"She didn't say. Just some people Brak works with."

Rex sighed. "Alright. We'll go."

"Ok," she said quietly, opening the door.

Before she stepped out, Rex turned in his chair. "Senna?"

She looked back, meeting his eyes. "Yes?"

The words caught in his throat. He wasn't even sure what he wanted to say. I'm sorry. Please let's go back to the way things were. I love you. I understand why you think we can't, but you're wrong. I'm sorry. His mind raced as he tried to come up with something, but when he couldn't, he closed his mouth and just looked at her. "Never mind."