Darkest Hour - Sequel to Across the Stars and Beyond

New recruits and the Sith Empire

A/N: Some Artwork used in this book is by Rookie425 over on DeviantArt, go and give my boy a follow for letting me use his artwork/s throughout this book.

Captain Rex pov:

"But Cyar'ika!" I protested. Ahsoka held up her hand. "No means no. No food fights in the temple. I don't care if you were showing the Padawans a new style of attack, it's not on, you got me?" Jedi Master Ahsoka Tano shook her finger at Rex and the Captain nodded, chastised.

"If you do want to do that sort of 'new style of attack'," Ahsoka said commentating her fingers expressively, "You will take the Padawan's down to the Barracks and invite me so I can enjoy the fun of teaching an eight year old how to force hurl a meiloorun at a clone." I stood there shocked that a Jedi Master would even think of such a thing, even though we were the same age...

I grinned. "Careful, you might become a Sith Acolyte..." I teased Ahsoka lightly punching her arm. "Lowering yourself to come down to the Barracks, how nice of you!" Ahsoka feigned mock horror at my revelation. "In that case, I might just have to suspend all forms of this 'new style of attack' because it might turn a Jedi to the Dark side of the Force?" I shook my head the teasing smile departing from my lips almost instantly.

"Alright alright alright, here's the deal, I invite the Padawans and you to the Training grounds, which are cleaned automatically every day, to a foodfight- I mean a new form of attack, and you don't suspend my extracurricular activities spending exorbitant amount of credits in town with the boys..." I said trailing off as Ahsoka slowly turned around. "Whoops, I think I might have let slip in my old age..." I said weakly as Ahsoka turned to force choke me in the air.

Commander Bly pov:

"Yes, I have to go train the new recruits-" I broke off my conversation with Jedi Grandmaster Aayla Secura and stopped short, horrified to see Rex in the air clutching at his throat. I pulled my blaster out and aimed it at Master Ahsoka Tano. "What in blazes is going on here?!" I angrily demanded moving closer. Ahsoka turned to me eyes blazing with fury. 

"Rex has been gambling a LOT of credits on Sabaac games. Over 4,000 Credits this week alone!" I stopped and laughed long and hard at Ahsoka's furious voice. "Rex didn't LOSE four thousand credits, he WON four thousand credits." I said choking through the tears of laughter. Ahsoka immediately lowered Rex, who collapsed on the floor gasping for air. "I tried to explain that to you but-" Ahsoka cut Rex off. "No, I'm the one who's sorry. Maybe you were right, maybe I'm turning Sith." Aayla ignited her lightsaber and I lifted my DC-17 pistols towards Ahsoka.

"I'M JOKING!" Ahsoka held out her hands vainly, and I stunned her not one or twice but three times. "So am I." Aayla looked at me sharply. "Bly," she paused to slap me square in the cheek, "Don't EVER do that again! You hear me?" I nodded chastised.

Aayla leant down to help Ahsoka and I fired a stun bolt into the ceiling for fun. Aayla whipped around in a fright. "Bly you kriffing-" Aayla was cut off by Ahsoka waking up. I stared at the Togrutan Jedi Master in surprise. Ahsoka caught me looking confused so she explained. "Skyguy used to have the 501st shoot me with stun bolts so I could properly defend myself." I nodded and checked my wrist chrono. 

"Oh Kriff, we're going to be late to train the new recruits!" I looked at Rex and I nodded for him to get moving. I arrived around the corner then straightened. "We need to look presentable. No out of breath, no nothing." Rex nodded and put on his helmet. We paraded out in front of the recruits, then stood at ease. 

I took off my helmet and put it under my arm leisurely. "I am Commander Bly of the 327th Defense Corps in charge of Lothal. This is Captain Rex, of the 501st Legion and we will be training you in everything you will need to know to become a soldier of the Republic."