Under revisions & rewrites
Book 1
" My only order to you is to not follow orders "
Dakota Ky. General of the 501st, Jedi of the Galactic Republic. The Perfect Warrior.
~
The Clone War is in full force across the galaxy. Jedi Knights of the Galact...
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The bar had filled out in the hour since they arrived. The music had gotten louder, air had grown warmer, stickier. Laughter bubbled up from all corners, civilian and clone alike. Fives had pulled up a stool beside Rex, sipping on something strong with a cocky grin as he eyed the dancers in the far corner.
"I still can't believe you came out tonight," he said, nudging Rex with his elbow. "What, is Captain Rex finally developing a social life?"
Rex gave a half smile and a shrug. His eyes flicked toward the door, then the time display on the wall, then back to his drink, untouched for the past twenty minutes.
Echo was still at the booth across the way, deep in conversation with the woman from earlier. She was laughing now, animated, her attention fully on Echo. Rex appreciated that. She wasn't his type, but he didn't want her to feel unwanted either. Echo could handle it better anyway.
Then his comm went off.
A sharp ping. His hand was on it instantly, body stiffening. He lifted the receiver. Fives sat back, becoming curious.
"Rex," came her voice—Dakota's voice, unmistakable and dry and familiar.
But then, static.
Then a crack like glass under pressure. A boom in the distance, not from the bar. Not music. Real. The comms fuzzed, flared, and cut out.
Silence. Rex froze.
Echo's laughter halted mid-breath. The bar didn't notice, but the clones did. Fives leaned over with a smirk. "Uh oh. Maybe the General's mad you didn't invite her out here with us." he teased. "I knew I should've—"
"Shut up." The words were quiet, but final. Rex was already standing.
Fives blinked, catching on all at once. "Wait—what happened?"
"She was calling me," Rex said, voice flat. "Then nothing. Static. Then a blast. I don't know.
The rest of the bar blurred. The other 501st clones had heard it now too, the subtle tension rolling off them as they straightened in their seats, jokes fading. Their eyes were fixated on their Captain.
Echo slid back into their circle. "That wasn't just a dropped signal," he said, confirming what they all felt in their bones.
Rex's jaw clenched. His hand hovered over the comm again. He tried to hail her. Nothing but static. "She's in the upper district." he muttered.
Fives looked between them. "You think something happened up there?"
"I'm going," Rex said without hesitation. "Something's wrong."
