Star Wars the Clone Wars: Family Ties

Chapter 10

A small transporter ship comes down in the landing bay of the Jedi Tample. Mace Windu and Yoda are standing nearby and watch as the group exits. Anakin is the first to exit and then Cloe who is laying a medical bed and being escorted by a medical clone. Braxton stays by her side and Obi-Wan walks with them but stops to talk with Windu and Yoda.

"Rex," Anakin said, "Let's talk for a second."

Anakin leads Rex to the front of the transporter ship and looks out at the falling sun. Rex removes his helmet and places it to his side.

"How are you holding up," Anakin asked.

"I am doing alright," Rex said, "My head hurts a little bit but can't complain."

Anakin crosses his arms, "You know what I mean, Rex."

Rex takes a moment of silence, looking at the falling sun.

"I keep replaying the situation in my mind. Trying to think of ways that it could have gone if I had just went into that little room with them. Grievous might not have found us. Cloe wouldn't have been injured. All of this could have been prevented, if I had just followed orders."

Anakin follows Rex's gaze to falling sun, "Rex. You and I both know that Grievous would have found you, regardless if you had gone into the room or not. You did the right thing. You protected Braxton and Cloe. And Cloe's injury? It isn't your fault. She made the decision to go and fight Grievous. She made that choice."

"But it was a choice she didn't have to make. She was protecting me when I should have been protecting her."

Anakin looks at Rex, "Don't put this blame on yourself, Rex. Trust me. It was a situation that you couldn't control. Cloe made up her own mind to protect her brother and you. Yes. In the process, she did get injured, but it is better then having all three of you dead."

"Sir," Cody said behind them, "General Windu and General Kenobi are requesting your presence. And Braxton is asking for you, Rex."

"Thank you Cody," Anakin said turning back toward Rex, "You are good soldier, Rex. I trust you with my life and the decisions that you make in the battlefield. Remember that."

Anakin walks away from Rex and Cody.

"She will be okay, Rex," Cody said.

"I hope you are right," Rex said walking away.

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In the Jedi Temple communication room, Windu, Yoda and Obi-Wan stand on either side of a hologram table and on the table stands Shaak Ti. Anakin walks into the room, mid-conversation.

"I agree with Master Windu," Shaak Ti said, "But, Braxton will never agree."

Anakin walks to the side of Obi-Wan and whispers, "What happened to the meeting with the council?"

"Other things emerged that needed to be dealt with," Obi-Wan whispered back.

"Glad that you could join us, Master Skywalker," Windu said turning toward him, "Obi-Wan was telling us that you had run in with Grievous."

"It was nothing out of the ordinary," Anakin said, "Until he said that Braxton is still important to them. What that importance is, I don't know."

"Either way," Windu said looking back at the crowd, "We need to take this threat seriously. Which is why, I think we need to stick with the plan I proposed."

"What plan is that," Anakin asked.

"We put Braxton into hiding," Windu said, "Just until we figure out what exactly the Separatist want with him."

"You can't be considering separating Braxton from Cloe, especially after what happened," Anakin said, "He would never want to leave."

"I know that it is not the most ideal option," Windu said, "But it is the only one we have at the moment. Grievous knows that we would bring Braxton and Cloe back here for safety, but if Braxton is this valuable, then it is just a matter of time before Grievous sends someone to come and get him."

"Have you considered how Cloe will react when she wakes up to find that her brother is gone," Shaak Ti asked.

"Cloe would want Braxton to be safe," Obi-Wan said, "And I believe that Master Windu's option is the best in this case."

"I am still not sure about this," Anakin said hesitantly, "I have only known Cloe for a few days, but she is very protective of her brother. Especially now that he is the only family she has left."

"Cloe will be able to contact Braxton on a secure line anytime," Windu said, "And it is only temporary not permeant."

"So, then what about Cloe," Anakin said, "We send her brother away but where does that leave her?"

"She is too weak to transfer into hiding," Windu said, "For now, she will remain here on Coruscant."

"What about her ability to use the Force," Anakin asked, "Are we just going to ignore that as well?"

"Adecision for later," Yoda said, "Plan we have then. Make haste we must."