Hero (Rex)

9

Tw: Threats of death and stuff.

Rex let Kara be taken from him to the medical bay, knowing she would be taken care of. He then made his way to the meeting room, where Vader was most likely killing someone.

He silently entered, slipping to the corner of the room. Rex tried to ignore the throbbing of the woman's forehead veins as Vader strangled her, staring down at his feet.

"Captain." Vader turned to Rex. "You've returned."

"Yes, my lord," Rex replied. "I have news regarding the boy."

Vader released the woman, who fell to the floor. He dismissed them all, and they hurried away, grateful to be spared.

"Well?" Vader prompted, returning his attention to Rex.

"It was a trick. He wasn't there. She has been wounded and is now receiving emergency treatment," Rex informed him, still fighting his headache. "We were attacked and lost some of our squad."

"Disappointing. I expected more, Captain." Vader flexed his hand in a threatening motion.

"I believe that she will give in!" Rex blurted out. "There's hope for her yet! She could still be useful!"

"Very well. But if the boy is not found soon, your use to me will have been lost as well," Vader warned.

Rex nodded. "Understood, sir."

"Captain." Vader's voice made Rex pause, halfway out the door. "Since you've been gone, some events have transpired."

Rex wrinkled his forehead inside his helmet in confusion. "What happened?"

"CT-5555 has committed treason. He is now a deserter." Vader's words carried a hint of emotion that Rex couldn't quite unpuzzle. "He took CT-1409 with him. Footage shows CT-5555 forcefully abducting CT-1409."

Rex cleared his throat. "Thank you for telling me, sir."

"Deserters will be executed. The Empire doesn't tolerate treason," Vader furiously said. "I expect you to terminate them if you stumble across them."

Rex felt his insides twist. "Of course, sir."

As he went through the door, he thought about how his plan to leave, and to take Kara with him. This whole situation scared him, but he was ready. He was ready to escape.

"Captain, one last thing."

Rex felt his blood turn to ice as he slowly turned on his heel to face the Sith. "Yes, sir?"

Vader surveyed him for a moment. "Do you have a headache?"

"Yes, sir. Why?" Rex hesitantly answered.

Vader ignored his question. "Why do you think you have the headache?"

"I-I hit my head earlier," Rex uncomfortably responded. "Is there a reason you want to know?"

"Report to the medical bay," Vader dismissively said. "Immediately. Tell them you hit your head and have a headache."

"It's not that bad, sir," Rex protested. "I don't need to see a medic."

"It's an order," Vader firmly said. "I will know if you don't go. And an old friend will be visiting later."

Rex frowned, wondering who it could be. "An old friend, sir?"

"Go." Vader's hand moved to his belt, where his lightsaber rested. "I'm losing my patience."

Rex bowed his head before hurrying out the doors, heading to the medical bay. Perhaps he'd get to see Kara.

Kara didn't like the medic.

He was ignoring her attempts to escape.

If she was going to put in the effort to escape, he needed to put in the effort to stop her. Even though she was making zero progress, he should at least pretend to be concerned. It was hurting her ego.

Kara let loose a string of swears as she struggled against her bindings, cursing whoever invented this inescapable prison.

"It's just a blanket. I tucked you in," the medic said as he walked by.

Kara glared at him. "You tucked me in too tightly!"

"I don't care!" The medic stormed over and tucked her in further, ignoring her shrieks of protest. "Now shut up!"

"It's too tight!" Kara whined, kicking her feet against the blankets. "I don't like it!"

"I will sedate you," the medic threatened.

Kara scowled. "Do it, you coward. I dare you!"

"Fine." The medic pulled out a needle from a drawer and brandished it at her. "I'll do it.

"You don't have the guts!" Kara hissed, fighting the blankets wrapped around her. "You're a kriffing wimp!"

The medic stuck the needle into her arm after moving the blankets to the side to reach her. "There! Happy?"

"You actually did it!" Kara's mouth dropped open in shock. "How dare you? When I get out of here, you're the first person I'm gonna kill!"

"Uh-huh."

"I- I'll rip your throat out!" Kara's eyelids fluttered and she sunk into the bed. "Just... Just after a quick nap."

The medic adjusted her blankets. "Sure you will."

"Is she being too much?" Rex asked in amusement as he entered.

"I sedated her." The medic pointed to an exam table which Rex clambered onto. "What seems to be the problem?"

"Just a headache. Lord Vader sent me." Rex placed his helmet next to him. "I'm fine, though."

"I'll be the judge of that." The medic brought out a scanner and lifted it over Rex's head. His eyes flicked over the results and he made a sound from the back of his throat. "Odd."

"What?" Rex's fingers tightened on the edge of the table.

"Nothing." The medic handed Rex his helmet. "Rest tonight. Visit in the morning for a follow up."

Rex nodded his understanding and slipped his helmet back on. "Thank you." He glanced at Kara. "She'll be fine?"

"Yes. I'll send her to a cell as soon as she's in stable condition." The medic smiled kindly, trying to comfort him. "As soon as she'll well enough I'll let you know and you can interrogate her."

Rex ran to his room.

As soon as he got there, he threw his helmet into the corner and buried his face into his hands, sinking to the floor. He rubbed at his face and tried not to cry.

"Have you missed me that much?"

Rex's head snapped up and he gasped in surprise. "I didn't know you survived to join the Empire!"

"It's been busy." Wolffe shrugged and picked up Rex's helmet.

Rex sat up slightly. "Same."

Wolffe settled next to Rex on the ground. "Tell me about it."