Afterglow | The Clone Wars

Guilt

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The elevator doors slid open at her approach, making way for her to step inside of the small space with her hands linked together tautly at her back. In passing, clones greeted her, all with a mix of relief and gratitude that she was there. There were far less soldiers than she anticipated, with those original numbers having lessened in the mere days that she'd been away.

Thanks to Krell.

She faced the opposite wall of the elevator where the door would ultimately open up into the control center at the top of the captured tower. Within the confines of the walls, she could feel the Jedi's presence. His firm, choking grip on the men and his barbaric strategies that nearly costed her Fives and Jesse.

Rex caught the door before it could close and entered in after her, falling into place at her side. The doors slid shut, cutting the pair off from the outside and leaving them isolated on the inside.

She crossed her arms, eyes searing into the durasteel of the wall. At her side, Rex gave a side-long glance at her profile, debating on if he should speak first. So much laid on the tip of his tongue.

"You were just going to let it happen." She stated simply, coldly.

And just like that, he deflated.

"I..." He looked away. "I had faith the men would make the right choice."

"You should have refused all of it." She said through gritted teeth.

Rex pivoted slightly. "It's not that simple. None of this—" he lifted his hand. "—has been simple. Krell, he—"

"I don't care." She faced him abruptly. The heat of her icy stare could burn and freeze the waters of Kamino. "You are their Captain, and in our absence, their lives are on you."

In a confused mix, he found himself countering her. Something he'd never done in his entire life. "You don't... you don't know what it's been like to be in this position."

"I know exactly what it's like." She jammed her finger into his chest plate, the words leaving much up to his imagination. "To have someone force your hand, to make you—" she closed her eyes, hardly able to finish. "—to turn you into a killer. I know what that's life. And I wasn't strong enough to stop them, but I had higher hopes for you."

"I would never lay a hand on my soldiers, or doubt them." He vowed sternly. "I knew they would come to their senses. They are not mindless droids."

The hardness in her glare began to wither, albeit slowly.

"But I am also a captain. I respect my General's and their wishes, and I do so with the faith that they hold the same respect for me. Even if they don't..." His voice trailed for a moment. "I at least know that I can do my duty and follow orders."