Clone Wars One Shots

Clones

Clones are soldiers. Clones obey. Clones are expendable. On Kamino the Kamidonians made us rehearse these lines repeatedly to imbed it in our brains. We were made for war. Bred for war. Although we were never taught how to get past the deaths of our brothers. You would think our teachers would have done this.

Captain Rex looked out one of the Resolute's many windows, mesmerized by hyperspace. The way the lines merged together a blur of blue and white as the ship sped past different planets. He was in a trance lost in his thoughts about the war, reminiscing on old memories with his lost brothers. Well, until a familiar voice crackled through the comm on his wrist.

"Rex. Come up to the bridge, it's time for the briefing."

Rex rubbed his eyes. "Right away, General."

The Captain pulled his helmet from its clasp on his belt and slid it on his head. He wasn't exactly excited about the next mission, he heard it was going to be rough and on Ryloth. Those missions tended to always have very high casualties, even for the legendary 501st battalion.

He walked down the corridor towards the command center, giving clones he passed a brief nod as they saluted. Rex didn't know why they did, he wasn't any different from any of his brothers. Sure he was a Captain, but they were all literally the same. Copied and pasted many, many times.

Rex sighed and pressed the button to open the doors. The bridge was always busy at this time, right before the ship finished its jump. He looked around and saw Anakin waving him over to the holotable.

"Rex, what do you think about this plan?" General Skywalker said, pointing a finger towards an underground layout of some sort.

Rex placed a finger to his lips. "An underground mission?"

The Jedi nodded. "Yes, the Council wants us to be discreet. Especially since Ryloth is a neutral planet."

Rex paused, if Ryloth was neutral then why were they saving the inhabitants? "With all due respect sir, then why are we going there?"

Anakin sighed, he obviously had gotten this question many times. "Just because they are neutral doesn't give the Separatists the right to enslave them."

The Captain pondered on this. Of course he wanted to save them no one should have to endure the Seperstists's wrath, but they should have just sided with the Republic beforehand. Rex didn't have a fortified understanding about politics but he did have common sense. "I guess you're right. Where do we start?"

Anakin nodded and continued on with the briefing. "There will be two squads, one with me, the other with you and ARC trooper Fives."

"Where is Fives, sir?"

"He will be meeting us on Ryloth. General Koon was needing his assistance but Fives assured me he'd be there."

Rex crossed his arms over his chest. "Alright, so we have two groups then what?"

The Knight hesitated and ran his metal hand through his curls. "That's the hard part. Ryloth is confusing, every route I've found is rough. I'm afraid it's going to be another suicide mission."

The Captain tapped his hands on the table, racking his brain for another solution. Another way. He couldn't bear to order his men into yet another suicide run. "There's not a different route?"

"I've checked everything, Rex. This is the only option ." Anakin placed a hand on his Captain's shoulder, "I know it pains you to send your men in there. It hurts me too, but it's the only way."

"I understand. I'll get the troops ready."

Anakin returned his hands to the table. "Ok. Comm me when you're ready to depart."

Rex saluted stiffly then returned to the metal doors. He didn't want to leave, didn't want to face his men ordering them to their deaths. Command was never easy, having to make decisions that could affect people's lives. Kriff, but who was he to talk? General Skywalker was always under stress and he didn't show it, so Rex couldn't either, he just couldn't. 

The Captain continued down his path toward the barracks. He could practically hear the laughter radiating from the steel walls, such a typical occurrence for the 501st battalion.

Rex opened the doors and stepped inside the dim light room. On all sides were bunk beds, some of them containing clones either sleeping or talking amongst themselves. He found himself drifting towards the voices the Captain knew the best; voices of his very close brothers. 

"Captain!" Hardcase said jumping up from his bunk like a little cadet. "How was the meeting?"

Rex smirked, Hardcase was always so jittery. "It went okay."

"Did you and the General figure out a plan?" Jesse asked, taking a break from scrubbing his blaster.

Rex couldn't help but frown. "Yes, but it's going to be another rough mission I'm afraid."

Hardcase hesitated but quickly stuck a smile on his face. "I'm sure it's nothing that we can't handle, sir."

"I hope you're right, Hardcase."

************

The Captain twiddled his thumbs nervously while waiting for Anakin to arrive in the hangars. Usually Rex scolded his General for always being late, but today he was thankful for his tardiness. A few more tense minutes passed before Anakn's curly brown hair came into view.

"Rex! Hey!" The Jedi said running to meet his captain. "Sorry I'm late, I was talking to Ahsoka. You know how she gets."

Rex let a light chuckle escape his lips. The clone knew how distracted the young Torgurta could sometimes get. "She's practically your template, sir."

Anakin smiled, returning Rex's laughter before waking swiftly onto the ship's ramp.

The Captain followed shortly behind but hesitated before boarding. This ship would take them to Ryloth's surface, dodging through bullets as they whirled past. Rex shivered as he imagined seeing his brother's dead bodies scattered on the ground, holes gaping in their chests. It was his worst fear and a recurring nightmare.

Rex took a deep breath letting it out slowly. He took one shaky step onto the metal ramp and reminded himself of the Kamidonians creed.

Clones are soldiers. Clones obey. Clones are expendable.

They were all bred for death.

Sorry it took me so long to update. I've been super busy lately with school, but I hope to update again soon. See you later!

-Kat :)