Star Wars One Shots

CT-6785

*****

     In the depths of a dense jungle, a group of clones sat around a pile of a dozen crates. It was a simple mission, really, one of the most mundane Rex had been sent on in ages. All they had to do was guard the crates for a while- patrol the area, make sure they didn't get stolen- but really, it was easy work. Apparently, they held valuable cargo, but what specifically was in was kept very vague.

     Jesse and Dogma were dead asleep, leaning against one of the metal boxes, while Fives, Echo, and Tup were loudly debating which of the three would last the longest in a fistfight against battle droids. Personally, Rex was fine to sit back and take a moment to relax after days of running around.

     Just as he had closed his eyes to rest, a hand tapped his shoulder. Disgruntled, Rex opened his eyes to see Fives standing right in front of his face. "Rex, Rex!" Five grinned wildly, shaking the clone captain.

     "Huh?" Rex took a minute to rub his eyes before swatting Fives away. "What is it, Fives?" 

     "Am I better than Echo in hand-to-hand combat?"

     "Yeah, sure thing." Rex muttered, still only half awake. Fives grinned, running back to relay the information to Tup and Echo. Their playful bickering continued. Well, Rex was awake now, so he might as well make himself useful. He stretched, walking around to the other side of the crates.

    Rex saw much of the same- many clones rested, others chatted and some played simple games. All except one: an unfamiliar face (well, as unfamiliar as one can be when you all look the same) sat on a tree root. Based off of his unscuffed armor, he was a shiny.

    Rex walked forward and took a seat beside him. The shiny blinked, realized it was Rex sitting beside him, and quickly stood up to salute. "Captain!"

    "No need for that," Rex motioned for him to sit back down. "So, you're new here?"

     The shiny hesitated before sitting back down. "I just got shipped out from Kamino thirteen rotations ago," he admitted.

     "Well, we're glad to have you here. What's your name?"

     "CT-6785, sir."

     "I didn't ask for your designation, trooper, I asked for your name. Do you have one?"

     "Well," the shiny hesitated before speaking. "Some of the others back on Kamino called me Harpy."

     "Harpy it is. Nervous about your first mission?"

     "Isn't everyone?" Harpy chuckled uncomfortably.

     "Well, you're in luck. Today, we're just waiting around. Some might consider it boring, but you'll come to appreciate times like this in the future. No clankers, just spending time with brothers."

     "Huh. So, it's not normally like this?"

     "To be honest, we spend a decent portion of time shooting or being shot at. You shouldn't worry too much, though. Here in the 501st, you'll be led by General Skywalker and Commander Tano. While I can't say the same about some of the other Generals, they'd both risk their life to help out one of their men in a heartbeat."

     "Are you sure about that, sir?" Harpy cocked his head to the side. "I don't mean to doubt your words, but we're just numbers to the Republic."

     "You'll just have to stick around and wait 'till you see the General and Commander in action. I think they'll surprise you." Rex grinned as if a fond memory had passed his mind. "Actually, they're a little too eager to put themselves in danger sometimes."

     "I don't really have any other choice than to trust you, do I?"

     "Not really." Rex shrugged, grabbing his blaster. "Well, I'm going to go patrol our perimeter."

     "Could I come?" Harpy grabbed his blaster, not waiting for Rex to answer.

     "Well, I don't see why not." Rex helped Harpy to his feet, and the pair broke away from the clearing to head towards the dense jungle.

     The two walked together, Rex taking the lead. Despite the rustle of leaves in the wind and the occasional animal call, the jungle was silent. "So sir," Harpy said, breaking the silence. "You know the General and the Commander well?"

     "I've spent a lot of time with the both of them. In fact, they'd both be here right now if General Skywalker hadn't offered to back up General Kenobi on his mission."

      The two walked in silence for a few minutes. They scanned the area for any sign of intrusion, walking deeper and deeper into the forest.

     "You know," Harpy dropped his voice to a whisper, "I've heard some things about the General."

     "Oh? Like what?" Rex raised an eyebrow.

     Harpy leaned in, whispering conspiratorially even though no one else was in ear shot. "I heard he and the Senator of Naboo are..." Harpy looked around the clearing before leaning closer, "...involved."

     Rex cackled. Harpy frowned, wondering why the rumor had elicited such a response from the Captain. "Kid," he started, "I won't confirm or deny anything, but that's probably the worst kept secret in the galaxy."

   "Really?" The shiny's eyes widened. "What else ha-"

   Rex put a finger over his lips, gesturing towards a nearby bush that was rustling too much for it to just be wind. Harpy silenced, grabbing his blaster. It was probably just a creature, but you could never be sure. Rex motioned for the two to inspect it closer.

   Then a shot rang out.

   Harpy clutched his heart, keeling over with a gasp. Rex fired his two blasters immediately and saw as a battle droid fell from a low branch on the bush, a smoking blaster hole in its head.

   Rex scanned the area for any other droids, but there were none. It had been a lone scout. Now sure the area was safe, Rex knelt to where Harpy had fallen. The trooper struggled to breathe, inhaling and exhaling in pained and panicked gasps. "Captain," he managed to choke out. "Are- are there others?"

     With wide eyes, Rex assessed Harpy's wound. It was a clean and straight shot straight at the heart. Even if Kix had been nearby to administer care, he would only be able to make Harpy's passing more comfortable. Rex had grown accustomed to seeing such wounds; they did their job quickly. 

    "No, there aren't any more. It was just one." Rex propped Harpy's head up.

    "Good, good." Harpy wheezed, his breaths beginning to slow. "Thank you, sir."

     He went limp soon after.

    Rex carried Harpy back to camp. It was the least he could do; if he had gone alone as he had originally intended, it likely would have been him with a blaster wound to the chest. The others mourned their fallen brother, but it wasn't anything new to them. Clones were born to go to battle; it was what happened.

    Kix laid a sheet over Harpy's body, then looked up to meet Rex's gaze. "Well," he laughed bitterly, gesturing to the pile of crates in the center of the clearing. "I hope what's in these crates was worth it, huh?"

   "Yeah," Rex sighed, looking over to the boxes, "I hope so."

*****