Star Wars One Shots

I'll never betray my Jedi

Ezra Bridger shot up in bed, trembling at the thought of his nightmare.
"I was beginning to think I knew who you were, behind that mask. But its impossible. My master could never be as vile as you."
Ahsoka had said.
"Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him." Vader had replied.
Ezra had dismissed the words, but perhaps the meant something else. Ahsoka knew who Vader was. Her master. Ezra concluded.
What was his name? Oh, Anakin Skywalker.
Ezra remember something Kanan had said about him. The...Chosen One? Hero with No Fear?
Yeah, that was it.
But, if he was the Chosen One, why- and how- did he become the terrifying monster that haunted Ezra's dreams?
Ezra, troubled, got out of bed and exited his room, going to the small kitchen of the Ghost.
Kanan and Rex were already there, bickering while playing a game of Dejarik.
Kanan sensed Ezra's confusion, and turned around.
"Is something on your mind, Ezra?" He asked.
"Yeah." Ezra looked down, frowning. "I had a nightmare about Malachor. But this time, I noticed something about Ahsoka and Vader's conversation. She said that she thought she knew who he was, but her master couldn't be as vile as him, so I think that means that Vader is her master, Anakin Skywalker." He said, looking up.
Rex looked up from the board.
"That can't be." He whispered. "No."
He cleared his throat. "Ezra, are you sure?"
"I think so."
Kanan thought, then spoke. "I think that may be true."
Rex shook his head, getting up from the table.
His Jedi, his general, his friend, couldn't have ever become the vile, monster, Ezra and Kanan had described. It was impossible.
Rex knew Anakin had always had anger and hate in him, but what would compel him to do such a thing as join the Sith?
Rex wouldn't know, the half of the 501st Anakin was in charge of probably would've helped him execute Order 66, if it was true. He had been with Ahsoka on Mandalore at the time, and Anakin had recently given her command of that half of the 501st battalion.
It can't be.
"I've worked beside General Skywalker. That....that isn't true." Rex denied.
"Rex, I know you don't want to believe it, but it's very possible it is true. You know Skywalker's reputation." Kanan said.
Rex walked out before either Jedi could say anything, and went into the gunners cockpit. He sat down in the chair, burying his head in his hands.
"It's not true." He whispered to himself.
· · · ·
As Rex ran towards the Phantom, he heard that terrifying mechanical breathing of Darth Vader.
Sabine, Ezra, Kanan, and Zeb all ran by him, and blaster bolts whizzed past his head, but Rex just froze, the only thing in his ears at the moment was Vader's rhythmic and unnatural breathing.
"Rex!" Kanan yelled. "Come on!"
Rex shook his head. "My general is here." He said.
"That's not him anymore! You'll die!"
Rex took a deep breath. "Go."
Kanan opened his mouth to object, but decided to respect Rex's decision.
"It's been an honor, Captain Rex."
Rex nodded. "You too, Kanan."
Then Kanan looked at him sadly, and turned as the Phantom's doors closed and it lifted off.
Rex finally turned to face the monster, who had stopped his men from shooting. Rex removed his helmet.
"Captain Rex." Vader said, walking over to him, cape billowing behind.
"Darth Vader."
Vader's breathing filled the room again, until he finally spoke.
"Why didn't you go with your pitiful rebel friends? Decide to join the Empire?"
Rex stood, looking into the black, unreadable ovals of Vader's eyes.
"No. I came to find the truth. The truth of what happened to Anakin Skywalker." Rex said.
"Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him. Your general is gone, Captain."
"Really? I think he's standing right here."
Vader was silent. Then with one gauntlet covered, prosthetic hand, he reached for his saber, clipping it from his belt.
"Your wrong." Vader said. "Now you die."
He ignited the saber with a snap-hiss, and Rex looked at the fiery red blade. The lightsaber looked similar to Anakin's, but his had been a light blue.
Rex closed his eyes.
"I'll never betray my Jedi." Rex whispered.
Then Vader plunged the red blade into Rex's chest.
· · · ·
What have I done? Vader thought, as Rex's dead body slumped to the floor.
His right-hand-man, his best captain, his loyal clone, his friend, now lay lifeless at his feet.
No. Not his friend. Anakin Skywalker's friend.
It didn't hurt any less.
Vader picked up Rex's helmet, that had fallen from his arms, and placed it right beside him.
"Don't worry about a thing, sir. We'll have the city under Republic control by the time your back." Rex had said to Anakin, after the arrival of General Krell.
"Master Krell, this is Rex, my first in command. You find a finer or more loyal trooper anywhere."
Rex had stood tall then, in the presence of the general.
"Good to hear that. I wish you well Skywalker." Krell reached out one of his four arms, putting one on Skywalker's shoulder.
Then he had walked into the gunship.
After, Rex had taken Krell down, as he was found to be a traitor.
Rex had never let him down.
And like Rex himself has said, never betrayed his Jedi. Not even when his Jedi had betrayed him.