"You really scared me when you threw me down the wall, that was probably the most terrible..."
Rex pauses with his narration as a first cough announces Ahsoka's condition is worsening, but the Togruta expertly ignores it. "Definitely not for me. You should have heard your scream." She laughs I a little, until that's interrupted by another coughing fit.
"Little one?"
"I'm fine, Rex. Now, where were we?"
Rex hesitates before continuing.
"All right.... I didn't recover from the shock for days and somehow I've been afraid to stand on a wall with you guys since then."
They both laugh. A humourless, desperate laugh.
This is interrupted once again by a fit of coughing and Rex stops immediately too. "Should I get Kix?"
Ahsoka shakes her head, but again she realises, albeit after a few seconds, that her friend can't see her. "No....he can't do anything here...," she says, exhausted from the effects of the blue shadow virus.
Rex closes his eyes briefly, knowing full well that his commander is right.
"What can I do?"
"Can you....just talk?"
"Talk?"
"Yeah... you know... Make sentences and... tell stories...like that," the Togruta replies sarcastically.
"Of course Commander." Rex considers the best way to have a one-sided conversation to keep Ahsoka awake. The Togruta, at least, doesn't really seem capable of having a real conversation anymore.
He sighs.
This was definitely not part of his training...
"Uhhh... Can you remember once when Kix disappeared straight into the barracks without wanting to talk to anyone?"
"Mmh," Ahsoka confirms.
"You thought he was having a bad day then and.... you were absolutely right."
Rex has to grin as it thinks back to what happened.
"Actually, I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone, but I think this situation allows me to break that promise."
He considers for a moment what to start with, meanwhile making sure Kix is out of earshot.
"It started when his alarm didn't work properly and he was pretty much pressed for time. He had to go to a meeting with General Skywalker, however he was also able to calm down knowing that the General was probably late as well." Ahsoka gives a short laugh. That's definitely a habit of Anakin's.
"In any case, Kix still hurried and ran right into General Windu, who also had a meeting with Commander Ponds. You can imagine that General Windu wasn't too thrilled about that.
However, he only apologised briefly before the general could ask for his name. So he had been lucky again.
What he hadn't counted on, though, was that General Skywalker was on time for the first time in years, so he was the last to arrive in the briefing room. Skywalker gave him an angry look as he was also having a lousy day and the others almost laughed out loud. The look on his face probably would have been priceless if he hadn't had his helmet on."
Ahsoka has closed her eyes again by now and is listening to the thoroughly entertaining story. Had she had more strength, she probably would have laughed out loud just at the idea, but she didn't.
"He then had to explain to me why he was late. I've never seen him so rattled."
Silence.
"Ahsoka?"
No response.
"Ahsoka!?"
"Mm?" Rex exhales in relief. "I was beginning to think you were..."
"No.. Just tired." Another coughing fit.
Rex is about to reply when one of the soldiers gives him a quick nod.
Relief spreads through the captain.
"Listen Ahsoka...I know it's exhausting, but you have to stay awake. Help is on the way, we were able to contact General Skywalker and he is on his way here with the antidote."
"Mmm."
Rex furrows his eyebrows in concern as he hears how weak his commander sounds.
Now they can only hope that General Skywalker and General Kenobi arrive before it is too late for the young Togruta.
To be continued..
