Star Wars: The End of Time

Part 4-The Disagreement

The door chimed. Anakin shifted on his bunk as he sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the cot. It was not unusual to be awakened at strange hours. This was war. "Come in," Anakin said. There was no privacy on a ship and Anakin was sure it was just another person with a report which needed to be signed. The paperwork of being a general was about as bad as actually having to figure out a strategy for the next assault.

Captain Rex stepped through the door, the light from the hallway silhouetting him from the back and spilling onto the darkened floor of the room. Anakin rubbed his eyes due to the bright light and the door swished closed behind Rex.

"Another report?" Anakin asked and held out his hand not even looking towards the Captain, waiting for Rex to shove the datapad into his hand so that he could look over the report. Rex didn't move and there was no datapad in his hands.

"No sir," Rex said sounding rather preoccupied. It wasn't like him to be thinking of something else when talking to Anakin. Clones were efficient warriors. They weren't mindless, but they didn't get distracted from the goal very often.

"Something on your mind soldier?" Anakin asked stretching to stand. Anakin was tall and just a smidge taller than Rex. He sometimes found the height difference to his advantage as he was calling out orders to the troops. He seemed a bit more intimidating although he didn't like to rule with dominance, he did want them to know when he meant it.

"There is sir," Rex said standing at parade rest with superior precision. He'd been drilled so much that standing that way just came naturally.

"Take off your helmet so we can talk," Anakin said and went to get himself a glass of water. He didn't want to talk to the faceless helmet of Rex. He wanted to see the man underneath. "You want something to drink?'

"No sir," Rex said keeping the military tone in his voice. Anakin raised an eyebrow at the clone that was now standing with his helmet tucked neatly under his arm. Still very precise and rigid. "What is it?"

Anakin asked and gulped the water. It felt as though he hadn't had a drink in months. Maybe he hadn't because he'd been living off of Stimcaf for so long now. Or maybe it was because he hadn't really slept in days.

"It's Padawan Tano," Rex said keeping the formality of his conversation.

Anakin noted that his tone was still that of the Captain and not the Rex who was having a conversation with a comrade. "What about her?" Anakin asked his eyes widening in worry. "Is she hurt?"

"No sir," Rex said shortly. "She could be though, in a way."

"What are you talking about Rex? And why all this military formality?" Anakin finally asked slamming his glass down on the sink. Rex didn't even flinch and continued to look straight ahead at the opposite wall.

Anakin was surprised it didn't break into a million pieces and shred the skin of his hand.

"I don't approve of some of the ways you are teaching her to be a leader," Rex finally said.

Now Anakin understood the formality. If you were going to disagree with your superior, you better make sure you cross all your t's and dot all of your i's.

"What about it?" Anakin asked crossing his arms across his chest in a defiant stance. He had perfected the look after many attempts with Obi-wan. "I sent her back to the ship because I knew things were going to get hairy back there. I want her to be as safe as possible."

"She will never learn to lead," Rex snapped. "If you don't give her a chance to do so and you continue to send her away when things get tough. Leaders are forged in the fires of battle."

"Are you questioning me Captain?" Anakin finally said after a short silence, his eyes narrowing at the clone. Rex had never been one to ask Anakin why he was doing what he was doing. Yes, sometimes he suggested other plans of attack, but he always did it in a way that Anakin could easily swallow. This was different.

The affinity Rex felt for Ahsoka was shining through and Anakin wasn't sure he liked it. Rex's loyalties should be with Anakin and Obi-wan to some extent. "I'm merely making a suggestion," Rex said.

"What do you suggest I do?" Anakin asked. "Let her get blown to bits in the middle of a vulture droid swarm and then cry about it later?"

Anakin paced back and forth in the small space which was his cabin. There wasn't much luxury here. The generals had bigger cabins then anyone else, but that wasn't saying much. "I can't do that Rex."

"She needs to learn how to lead the troops in a tight situation. You've let her lead before. She has done fine. It's the best way to train a good leader," Rex said in a stiff voice. He was emotional about this and Anakin knew it. "You have to let her go."

"Do you want to watch her get killed?" Anakin asked. "Is that what you want? To see her body lying on the combat field and bleeding as you are pulling away from the planet all safe and sound?"

Rex shook his head. "I don't want that at all, but we all must do what we have to for this war. She is no different than I was when I was newly appointed as Captain."

Anakin had never had a disagreement with Rex. They had always seen eye-to-eye on almost everything they had decided upon. That is why Anakin put so much stock in what Rex thought about the strategies they were using in the war. This was not what Jedi were meant for and Anakin was starting to feel the pressure of everything they were doing. His head was throbbing. He raised a hand to rub his temples. This was too much. He felt like his head might explode. "What do you have in mind?" Anakin said through a tight mouth.

"I want you to let her lead the troops next time we go on a mission," Rex said matter of factly. "I think she will do a good job. She needs to learn."

"I really don't have time to clean up after her when it's a tight situation," Anakin said his patience wearing thin. "We are in the middle of a war, in case you hadn't noticed, which we will never win, if the tide does not begin to turn. I don't have time to field train her right now. We are doing the best we can to just hold on as it is. How many more of your men do you want killed?"

"I just would like you to consider the suggestion, the more Jedi to lead maybe the fewer clones who have to die." Rex said and snapped to attention, indicating he was ready to leave the room. For him the discussion was over. "I don't want any more of my men killed, but it's what we do."

"You're dismissed," Anakin said rubbing his temples again. He had never spoken to his men this way, but Rex was pushing his buttons. Maybe he should just let Ahsoka lead them. That would shut everyone up because maybe they wouldn't come back.

The door opened and Rex exited silently.

Anakin took the glass from the sink and threw it at the door in a fit of rage at the way Rex had just spoken to him. It shattered into a million pieces. He felt powerful.