Part the Tide | Captain Rex (BOOK 2 of the CHANGING WAVES series)

33 | The Glue in Blue

21 BBY, Month 8

Rex checked the last item on the list, placing the clipboard under his arm. Giving himself a nod of approval, he turned to the holo figure on call. "All things are ready for your return, sir."

Anakin grinned on the other line, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm counting on it, Captain." He paused, as if listening to someone on the other end. "Yes. Yes. No. Yes. Yes, I hear you. I get it. Now goodbye." He turned back to Rex. "Rylann and Clone Force 99 are so needy."

Rex rose a brow. Last time he checked they were the furthest thing from that. But he just nodded. "You enjoy your stay with them and with Senator Amidala wherever you all are." Rex saluted him. He wanted to get done with this call so he could spend time with Jos—well, spend time with Ahsoka and Jos as they worked on the Leak problem.

"We will," Anakin said, narrowing his eyes. "Where are you going, Rexolamew?"

Rex coughed into his fist. "With Ahsoka and Sergeant Pro'oz to meet up with General Kenobi and Commander Avunn."

Anakin sent a wink. "Have fun." He raised a finger. "Oh, and Ahsoka keeps calling me. If she brings it up, cover me. I don't want to have to explain why I am away and all." And he left the holo-call.

Rex let out a sigh. It sometimes sucked to be the only one who really officially knew about Anakin and Padmé. And with whatever shenanigans that Rylann and the Batch are up to—particularly Crosshair—was just more to look out for. Rex had a gut feeling that Anakin and Padmé's disappearance with Clone Force 99 wasn't purely coincidental. But, Rex didn't ask. He never did.

Rex turned on his heel to seek out Ahsoka. Luckily, he didn't have to go far since she was trying to no doubt call Anakin, but it wasn't being received.

"Ahsoka, are you ready to go?" Rex asked as he approached the girl who was leaning on the crate under a ship. Please don't bring up Anakin, please don't bring up Anakin, Rex thought to himself on repeat. He really hated to make up cover stories. It irked him to find the truth and twist it. It wasn't really his style.

She sighed, turning off her comm. "Where are we going again?"

"We are going to the science lab to stop this leak," Rex explained, picking at his arm which was freshly out of the cast. It was nice to be able to move it well. It still twinged, but it was like night and day compared to before.

A smirk crawled up Ahsoka's face. "Oh, so does that mean we get to see Obi-Wan?" she asked, that certain lilt in her voice which meant she was about to do something out-of-pocket or prank someone. Which was also out-of-pocket.

"Yes, it does," he said, giving her a look. "And no, we are not going to try the laxative on him." From experience, it was not fun.

Ahsoka's eyes widened before she frowned. "How did you—"