Cuyanir (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

19

Rex's last night in a bed was not a restful one. Terrible images flitted through his subconscious of Umbara, the Trandoshan Jungle, Mon Cala, and of the lab on Naboo with the blue shadow virus. he woke up several times in cold sweat with images of Khalifa's twisted body in his mind. Then it was Ahsoka. Then Cavalry. Then Echo, and Fives, Neon, Hevy...

He got up and staggered to the 'fresher, gagging and retching, bile burning his throat. He heaved stomach acid into the toilet until his mouth was sour and dry. Part of him, the part that was barely twelve years old, wanted to curl up in the small space between the toilet and the wall and just stay there until the war was over. His stomach still twisted with the images of his brothers and friends twisted bodies, mutilated and horrible. His Cyare laying dead a thousand times, and he had been helpless to stop it.

This, he realised, was the reality of war. This was what he had been made to do, to fight while others fell around him. His hands shook, and he let out a yell, slamming his into the wall and breaking the tile. It was almost 4:00 standard time, He knew he wasn't getting any more sleep. They were moving out today, and would be starting a form of trench warfare to use. It would be slow and dangerous. But it was their only shot at the moment. Blaster fire, a never ending sound on Umbara, echoed from the perimeter.

Rex fished around for a tooth brush and mint paste, and washed the foul taste of acid from his mouth. His knuckles stung, and blood ran down his fingers. Pulling a roll of gauze from his small bag of personal effects, he wrapped his hand up, not bothering with any bacta. It was small, barely a scratch, he told himself. His knuckles were rapidly turning shades of red and purple. He ignored it.

When he finally managed to stumble out back to his bed, Fives was sitting on his cott. Rex gave a raspy chuckle. "You too?" He said, sitting next to his brother. Fives cracked a grin, but his eyes had dark smears under them, and he looked about to drop.

"Yeah, Echo, Hevy, Cutup, who died right before we set off the flare on Rishi." Fives shook his head. "I don't know how you handle it." He whispered, drawing his knees to his chest like a child would. Rex showed him the fresh bandages on his hand.

"You can ask the walls I've punched how well it goes." He gave a humorless laugh. Fives joined in. Nothing like gallows humor to prep yourself for a long day of combat. Fives stood.

"I don't know about you, but I want to get my things packed before we march." His mouth tightened. Rex nodded.

"I'll do the same. And Fives?" He stopped in the doorway and looked back at Rex. "Look after Cavalry. She held up today, but she's also just a kid. I..." He trailed off Fives nodded.

"I'll help her through the march." He promised. Rex nodded, relieved. Fives left. Rex looked around the room. He really didn't have much to pack. He grabbed his small bag of personal effects and put on his armor.

The pauldron that he wore as a sign of his rank suddenly felt like an enormous burden that he could hardly lift. Could he stand to watch more brothers die today? With an effort, he snapped it in place. He would have to.

Anakin was already awake, staring at a holomap of the capital city with Kenobi. The other general slammed his fist into the holotable in a rare show of anger.

"We must take the capital city at all costs." General Kenobi snarled. Rex jumped back, and the jedi seemed to notice him. "Rex. Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." He apologized. Rex shook his head.

"No harm done sir." He said, his voice cold and formal through his helmet. Anakin looked up at his captain, his expression cold.

"Rex, get the rest of the men up and ready, those who are able will march with us will. Trench probes have set up two klick advances for us to move between. We will probe the capitals defences with a surgical strike, to see the defences and make out move from there. They armed, and you have seen the local militia and their defences." Rex nodded.